Mind–body treatments for children with functional gastrointestinal disorders
Stein K, Howarth L, Zucker N L (2025) BJPsych Advances Volume 31, Special Issue 6: Liaison Psychiatry (Part 1) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1192/bja.2024.76
Abstract:
Paediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (P-FGIDs) are common, affecting up to 25% of children worldwide. They are characterised by chronic abdominal pain and/or altered bowel habits without an underlying disease pathology.P-FGIDs are often associated with co-occurring anxiety and depression across all ages and treating P-FGIDs may provide an opportunity to develop a young person's wider emotion regulation capacities. Using a fictitious case vignette, we outline the range of psychosocial and biomedical treatments for the disorder and the need for an integrated and holistic approach.
We propose that by intervening early and enabling children to be curious about, rather than fearful of, their bodily sensations, clinicians may be able to alter harmful illness trajectories in both pain and psychiatric domains.
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