Children with Recurrent Abdominal Pain and Their Parents: More Somatic Complaints, Anxiety, and Depression than Other Patient Families?

• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/14.2.231
• Publication Date: 2007-01-04T20:59:49Z
• Authors: Lynn S. Walker; John W. Greene
• Keywords: Etiology; Depression; Somatization disorder

Patients presenting with abdominal pain were classified into two groups: the recurrent (RAP) group (n = 41), consisting of patients without identifiable organic etiology for pain, and 28), findings (primarily ulcer-related conditions). A control well 41) also participated. RAP had higher anxiety, depression, somatic complaints than patients, but did not differ from each other. Anxiety, somatization greater in mothers mothers. Father symptomatology groups. Results suggest that psychological distress does discriminate between pain. The high levels anxiety depression they should be targeted efforts to address "the new hidden morbidity" pediatrics.