Original Research Article
Year: 2018 | Month: March | Volume: 5 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 6-15
Psychosocial Correlates of Recurrent Abdominal Pain in Paediatric Patients
Dr Shruti Virmani1, Dr Avanish Kumar Yadav2, Dr Mansi Bhagat3, Dr Suryakant Singh4
1Senior specialist and HOD, Department of Paediatrics, ESI PGIMSR, Basaidarapur, New Delhi.
2Ex-Insurance Medical Officer, Department of Paediatrics, ESI PGIMSR, Basaidarapur, New Delhi, currently working as specialist Paediatrics, CGHS Mumbai.
3Insurance Medical Officer, Department of Homeopathy, ESI PGIMSR, Basaidarapur, New Delhi.
4Insurance Medical Officer, ESIC Organization, formerly at Department of Paediatrics, ESI PGIMSR, Basaidarapur, New Delhi.
Corresponding Author: Dr Avanish Kumar Yadav
ABSTRACT
Background: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is a very common distressing complaint in the pediatric population. Etiology remains an enigma as in majority of the cases the cause is not identified and therefore these cases are considered to be functional in origin.
Aims: To study psychological and social correlates in children with RAP and use of standardized scales to assess functional disorders (Anxiety state, anxiety Trait, and depression) and to see the association of negative life events in these patients.
Methods: We enrolled 49 children (age 5-12 yrs.) with complaint of recurrent abdominal pain, out of which 6 were excluded having organic cause of pain. These 43 cases termed as functional cases of RAP were compared with 40 control children of same age group. Standardized scales were used to define psychological disorders (vide supra) and negative life events and other stressors. Mean score of these factors were compared with that of control group.
Results: Out of 43 cases 8 patients (5 cases anxiety state, 2 cases anxiety state+anxiety trait and 1 case of depression) were found to have psychological disorders which were significantly higher than control groups. When we compared mean scores of anxiety state, anxiety trait and raw scores of depression, we found positive correlation of anxiety trait and depression in RAP group. Our study failed to establish positive correlation with negative life events in patients with RAP.
Conclusion: Our study showed not only a significant anxiety disorder in the cases but also a higher mean anxiety trait scores and higher depression raw scores than control. Therefore, it is suggested that such cases maybe followed up for development of anxiety or depression later.
Key words: Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP), Anxiety Trait, Anxiety state, Depression
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