THE PSYCHOSOCIAL IMPACT OF CHRONIC ABDOMINAL PAIN IN FUNCTIONAL GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS – CLINICAL AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

Abstract

Both functional abdominal pain and irritable bowel syndrome are common causes of chronic abdominal pain in children and adolescents. Addressing these nosological entities is done according to the biopsychosocial model of functional gastrointestinal disorders, given their effect on quality of life and psychosocial status thereof. The cognitive-behavioral therapy, family psychotherapy, relaxation techniques or hypnotherapy have proved effective in achieving better coping mechanisms in alleviating psychological and somatic symptoms. However, antidepressant medication including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants, improve psychiatric symptomatology, especially depressive mood due to gastrointestinal illness, but also digestive symptoms due to mechanisms of action that depend on complex neurotransmitters.

Keywords

• functional gastrointestinal disorders
• pediatric population
• biopsychosocial model
• antidepressants
• cognitive-behavioral therapy