Affiliation:
1. Pediatric Gastroenterology Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Ohio USA
2. Department of Pediatrics University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Cincinnati Ohio USA
3. Department of Pediatrics Universidad del Valle Cali Colombia
4. Department of Family Medicine Michigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
5. Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati Ohio USA
6. Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition University of Miami School of Medicine Miami Florida USA
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundMultiple psychological factors influence disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBIs). We aimed to evaluate psychological distress in Colombian schoolchildren with and without DGBIs.MethodsWe included children ages 8–18 years without organic medical conditions from largest regional public schools in Colombia. Children completed Spanish versions of Rome III diagnostic questionnaire for DGBIs, State Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAIC), Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI), and a measure of coping efficacy. These data, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, were compared between children with DGBIs and healthy peers. Exploratory analyses investigated differences between youth with symptoms of functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPDs) compared with healthy peers.Key ResultsOf 1496 children, 281 (mean age 12.9 ± 2.2 years, 49.8% females) self‐reported criteria for DGBIs and 125 reported (44.5%) FAPDs. Children with DGBIs had higher trait anxiety, emotional sensitivity, somatization including GI, non‐GI, pain‐related, and non‐pain‐related subscales (p < 0.001 each) and lower coping efficacy (p = 0.02) compared to healthy peers. Females had higher trait anxiety and somatization (p = 0.04 and p = 0.005, respectively). State and trait anxiety and coping efficacy differed based on location in children with DGBIs (p = 0.02, p = 0.03, and p < 0.001, respectively). Children with FAPDs had higher trait anxiety (p = 0.02) and somatization (p < 0.001) compared to healthy youth.Conclusions & InferencesChildren with DGBIs had higher anxiety, emotional sensitivity, and somatization, and lower coping efficacy compared with healthy youth. This highlights the importance of appraising psychological distress characteristics as well as incorporating conflict resolution, assertiveness training, and resilience building during the treatment of DGBIs.
Funder
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institutes of Health
Subject
Gastroenterology,Endocrine and Autonomic Systems,Physiology