The COVID-19 pandemic is a public health crisis that continues to impact individuals worldwide. While children may be less susceptible to severe medical complications, they are nonetheless vulnerable to stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic. However, current understanding of psychological functioning and potential strategies to mitigate distress amid a pandemic is naturally limited. Consequently, this article is an attempt to fill that gap. Existing literature on pandemics, health-related anxieties, intolerance of uncertainty, and psychopathological sequelae is summarized within the context of the COVID-19 outbreak. Conclusions from the empirical data and emerging theoretical models are reviewed and synthesized. Finally, several potentially engaging and effective examples of developmentally appropriate interventions targeting intolerance of uncertainty and health-related anxieties in pediatric patients during the peri-and post-pandemic periods are described.

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Tiller-Ormord J (2021) Helping pediatric patients tolerate uncertainty during unprecedented times: Translating findings from new research on developmental psychopathology and two promising measures

Pediatric Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders (p-FGID) comprise one of the most common chronic conditions impacting global health. Conceptualized as gut-brain communication disorders, p-FGID are often exacerbated by and contribute to significant anxiety as well as functional impairment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is the gold standard psychosocial treatment for anxiety spectrum disorders. Prior research demonstrates a bidirectional link between p-FGID and anxiety symptoms, recommending CBT as the first line of treatment for both. While exposure is the potent ingredient for anxiety treatment, exposure is under-investigated in the treatment of p-FGID. The present brief systematic review synthesizes existent literature to describe the impact of CBT on p-FGID and anxiety symptoms in youth. The researchers systematically screened articles (n=23) located via Embase, Medline, and PsychINFO search. Eight studies meeting inclusion criteria were included for the final review. Three themes characterized the selected articles: (1) the impact of CBT on p-FGID symptoms, (2) the impact of CBT on health-related disability in youth with p-FGID, and (3) the impact of CBT on concurrent anxiety symptoms in youth with p-FGID. Key findings are summarized and implications for treatment are identified.

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