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Peptic ulcer in childhood. Psychological factors
Insights
Psychological factors significantly contribute to childhood peptic ulcers. Children with ulcers showed distinct psychiatric profiles and parental influences compared to healthy peers.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Child Psychiatry
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Peptic ulcer disease in children is a significant concern.
- The role of psychological factors in childhood peptic ulcer pathogenesis requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychological profiles of children with primary peptic ulcers.
- To compare these profiles with those of matched ulcer-free controls.
Main Methods:
- A structured psychiatric interview and examination were conducted.
- Personality and intelligence tests were administered to patients and controls.
- Case-control study design with matched participants.
Main Results:
- Children with peptic ulcers exhibited lower mean IQ and poorer scholastic adaptation.
- Patients reported more anxious and overprotective parents and higher food faddiness.
- Psychopathic traits, past suicide attempts, and homosexual experiences were noted in some patients but not controls.
- Psychotraumatic events preceded ulcer onset in 11 cases.
Conclusions:
- Psychological factors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of childhood peptic ulcers.
- Distinct psychological and environmental factors differentiate children with peptic ulcers from controls.
- Further research into psychosomatic aspects of pediatric peptic ulcer disease is warranted.
Abstract:
Thirty children (20 girls and 10 boys, aged 6-16 years) with primary peptic ulcers, matched in paris for age, sex and socio-economic standard to a group of 30 ulcer-free controls, were submitted to a structured psychiatric interview, a structured 'present psychiatric state' examination and to personality and intelligence tests. With one exception all patients suffered from duodenal ulcer; 3 male patients had personalities with psychopathic elements, 7 patients had nicknames, 5 suffered from psychiatric disorders, 3 had attempted suicide in the past, and 3 had had homosexual experiences. These parameters were negative in all controls. The patients had lower mean IQ, worse scholastic adaptation, more anxious and overprotective parents, higher frequency of faddiness in food and lower frequency of nail-biting than the controls. Psychotraumatic events had preceded the onset of ulcer symptomatology in 11 cases. The findings are discussed and the contribution of psychological factors in the pathogenesis of childhood peptic ulcer is stressed.