35 children(17 boys, 18 girls) with Recurrent Abdominal pain( RAP) without apparent organic causes, referrd from pediatric department of- Seoul National University Children´s Hospital were studied during 1988. 7. 1-1989. 2. 28.
The aims of this study are to examine clinical characteristics of the patients with RAP, to find possible factors influencing the onset and the course of the disorder, to evaluate the psychological status and the relationship with psychiatric diagnoses.
The study subjects were compared with the age and sex matched control subjects on measures of social and school functioning, family-environment, behavior traits by CBCL and parent-environment rating scale. All patients and their mothers were interviewed by a child psychiatrist.
The results were as follows
1) Abdominal pain was found to be more frequent when with a care taker, and related with traumatic life stresses such as separation from parents, death of family members.
2) Family members of the patients with RAP also had a high rate of a history of gastrointestinal dysfunctions with could not be attributed to organic etiologies.
3) Among 35 patients with RAP, 16 were diagnosed as psychiatric disorders. They were adjustment disorders (4), overanxious disorders (4), depression (2). tic disorders (2), attention deficit disorders (2), separation anxiety disorders (1), enuresis (1).
4) On CBCL, the patients with RAP were more internalized, socially less competent and less active compared with the control subjects.
5) According to the parent-environment rating scale, the patients with RAP had more conflicts with their parents about control issues. Family members of the patients with RAP were socially less competent and less abjustable. The parents of the patients with RAP were more affectionate and spent more time with their children but they were unfair and vague on instruction and discipline.
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