Telehealth for Pediatric Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Child Psychology
• Telehealth Interventions

Background:

• Disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI) like functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome significantly impact pediatric quality of life.
• Psychological interventions, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), show promise in managing DGBI symptoms in youth.
• Delivering CBT via telehealth offers a scalable and accessible approach to pediatric mental healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth-delivered CBT for pediatric patients with DGBI.
• To examine the relationship between treatment duration and symptom response in this population.
• To assess changes in functional disability and pain following CBT intervention.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective chart review of 22 pediatric patients (mean age 14.36 years) with DGBI who received telehealth CBT.
• CBT was delivered by psychologists embedded within a pediatric gastroenterology clinic.
• Patients completed validated self-report measures of functional disability and pain pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant reductions in functional disability and pain were observed after telehealth CBT implementation.
• The study employed a unique CBT model prioritizing psychoeducation and function.
• No correlation was found between the severity of functional impairment and the duration of CBT treatment, contrary to initial predictions.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth CBT is an effective intervention for reducing functional disability and pain in pediatric patients with DGBI.
• The findings support the integration of mental health services within pediatric gastroenterology settings.
• Further research is warranted to explore factors influencing treatment response and duration in this population.