"Stop the pain" - A multicenter, randomized-controlled study of a cognitive-behavioral intervention for children with functional abdominal pain

• Applicant: Professorin Dr. Petra Warschburger
• Subject Area: Personality Psychology, Clinical and Medical Psychology, Methodology
• Term: from 2013 to 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 223226361

Functional abdominal pain (FAP) is not only a highly prevalent disease but also poses a considerable burden on the children and their families. Untreated, FAP is highly persistent also leading to increased risk of psychiatric disorders. First results show that psychosocial factors play a significant role in symptom maintenance. Intervention studies underscore the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral treatment approaches but are limited in terms of sample size, long-term follow-up data, controls and inclusion of psychosocial outcome data. This study intends to contribute to fill the above-mentioned research gaps. Previously we could already show that a cognitive-behavioral training program is effective compared to a waiting list control group. By now applying an active control group, time and attention processes can be controlled for and long-term follow-up data over the course of one year can be explored. 107 children aged 7-12 years who fulfill the Rome-III criteria for FAP are allocated to an established cognitive-behavioral training program for children with FAP or to an active control group (focusing on information-delivery). Primary outcome is the course of pain intensity and frequency. Our primary hypothesis is that for participants in the intervention group the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain will be reduced more successfully and more sustainably than for children in the control group. Secondary hypotheses are that the intervention group will experience a higher increase in quality of life and psychosocial well-being compared to an active control-group.

• DFG Programme: Clinical Trials