(102) Child Anxiety Mediates the Relationship between Parent Anxiety and Child Somatization in Youth with Functional Abdominal Pain

Pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) are associated with adverse outcomes including increased somatization (e.g., heightened physiological sensations that include gastroenterological and non-gastroenterological symptoms) and increased functional disability. Caregiver distress and child anxiety are separately associated with the adverse outcomes of pediatric FAPD. However, the cumulative role of caregiver (i.e., stress, anxiety, and depression) and child psychological functioning (anxiety) in relation to adverse outcomes associated with FAPD, and particularly somatization, is unclear. Thus, the present investigation sought to examine the role of caregiver distress and child anxiety in relation to pain-related functioning (i.e., somatization, pain intensity, functional disability) in youth with FAPD. Data were gathered as part of a larger study examining a psychological treatment for youth with FAPD. Participants (ages 9–14) with FAPD completed measures of child anxiety, pain, and pain-related functioning. Caregivers completed a measure of caregiver distress (e.g., stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms). Pearson correlations revealed significant positive associations between child anxiety and child functional disability. Additionally, caregiver anxiety, child anxiety, and child somatization were all significantly and positively correlated with one another. Therefore, we assessed whether child anxiety may potentially mediate the relationship between caregiver anxiety and child somatization in this cross-sectional study. The indirect association between caregiver anxiety and child somatization via child anxiety was not significant. Future research including longitudinal designs to further understand the relationship between caregiver anxiety, child anxiety, and child pain-related functioning, would enhance understanding of how these potentially modifiable psychological factors may impact adverse outcomes of FAPD.

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Elevated fecal calprotectin is linked to psychosocial complexity in pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders

BMC Research Notes ◽

10.1186/s13104-021-05776-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Erin L. Moorman ◽

Michael Farrell ◽

Neha Santucci ◽

Lee Denson ◽

Christine Le ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Abdominal Pain ◽

Functional Disability ◽

Rating Scale ◽

Child Anxiety ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Fecal Calprotectin ◽

Numeric Rating Scale ◽

Functional Abdominal Pain ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract Objective Children with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) and clinical elevations in three risk areas (anxiety, functional disability, and pain) have been found to be at increased risk for persistent disability. We evaluated if the presence of these three risk factors corresponded with greater gastrointestinal inflammation (measured via fecal calprotectin; FC) compared to those with no risk factors. FC concentration differences between children with three risk factors and those with one and two risk factors were explored. Results Fifty-six children with FAPD (Mage = 12.23) completed measures of anxiety (Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders), disability (Functional Disability Inventory), and pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale). Participants were stratified into risk groups (range: 0–3). Fisher’s exact tests were conducted to determine if children with three versus fewer risk factors were more likely to have elevated FC (≥ 50 µg/g) versus normal levels. Children with three risk factors (MFC = 86.04) were more likely to have elevated FC compared to children with zero (MFC = 25.78), one (MFC = 38.59), and two risk factors (MFC = 45.06; p’s < 0.05). Those with three risk factors had borderline elevated FC concentrations whereas those with fewer had normal FC concentrations. Findings suggest the importance of a biopsychosocial approach to help elucidate a FAPD phenotype.

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