Cognitive Behavior Therapy for the Treatment of Recurrent Abdominal Pain

This article outlines the rationale and use of cognitive behavior therapy in the treatment of the gastrointestinal symptoms and illness behavior associated with Recurrent Abdominal Pain (RAP), often described as the childhood variant of IBS. It begins with a conceptualization of the social learning perspective of RAP, and then covers the relationship between childhood social learning and adult and childhood illness behavior. Studies that have utilized a cognitive behavior therapy approach for treating adult pain are summarized. Finally, specific cognitive behavior therapy trials for treating RAP, as well as moderators of treatment effectiveness, are discussed.