Open AccessCoping with Ignorance: Exploring Pharmacologic Management for Pediatric Functional Abdominal Pain
Author(s) -
Campo John V
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.206
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1536-4801
pISSN - 0277-2116
DOI - 10.1097/01.mpg.0000189326.65076.65
Subject(s) - medicine , irritable bowel syndrome , functional gastrointestinal disorder , abdominal pain , defecation , tegaserod , psychological intervention , intensive care medicine , disease , physical therapy , psychiatry
RELEVANCE Pediatric health care providers know FAP is a vexing problem (10) associated with an excess of functional impairment and perceived health limitations, an overuse of ambulatory health services, and a risk of potentially dangerous and unnecessary investigations and procedures (11–13). It is also clear that the disorder or disorders subsumed under the rubric of FAP are not limited to gastrointestinal pain and distress but that there is a consistent association with other somatic symptoms such as headache (including migraine), physical aches and pains, dizziness, and fatigue. FAP has been consistently associated with high rates of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms and disorders. Approximately 75% of youth presenting with FAP in both primary and specialty care settings have an anxiety disorder. Approximately 40% have depression (14–17,13). Early-onset anxiety and depressive disorders are chronic, recurrent, and disabling in their own right, and confer during life an increased risk of substance abuse, poor work history, school failure, and attempted or achieved suicide (18,19), but are seldom recognized in youth with FAP (10).