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Children with co-morbid recurrent abdominal pain and anxiety disorders: results from a multiple-baseline intervention

Christine B Sieberg1, Ellen Flannery-Schroeder, Wendy Plante

  • 1Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. christine.sieberg@childrens.harvard.edu

Journal of Child Health Care : for Professionals Working with Children in the Hospital and Community
|June 21, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) and combined CBT with family-based approaches show promise for treating childhood recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) and anxiety. These interventions offer potential benefits for children experiencing both conditions.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Medicine

Background:

  • Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is a common childhood issue with significant adverse outcomes.
  • Few treatment studies exist for RAP, especially in children with co-occurring anxiety disorders.
  • Children with co-morbid RAP and anxiety present a unique treatment challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for children with co-morbid RAP and anxiety.
  • To assess the utility of a combined CBT and family-based treatment approach in this population.
  • To explore treatment outcomes in a community sample of children with anxiety and RAP.

Main Methods:

  • A multiple-baseline, single-case experimental design was employed across participants.
  • Repeated measures of anxiety and pain symptoms were collected for each child.
  • The study included 8 families with children diagnosed with co-morbid anxiety and RAP.

Main Results:

  • Both the CBT intervention and the combined CBT and family-based approach demonstrated clinical significance.
  • Evidence suggests utility in reducing both anxiety and pain symptoms in children with RAP.
  • The findings indicate positive treatment outcomes for the evaluated interventions.

Conclusions:

  • Cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) is a viable option for children with co-morbid anxiety and recurrent abdominal pain (RAP).
  • Combined CBT and family-based approaches may offer additional benefits for treating childhood RAP and anxiety.
  • Further research is needed to explore the efficacy of family-based interventions in RAP treatment outcome studies.

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