Self-Reported and Laboratory-Based Responses to Stress in Children with Recurrent Pain and Anxiety

Abstract

Stress reactivity, as reflected in both self-reported and HR responses to laboratory stressors, is related to the presence of both RAP and anxiety in children.

Widespread Hyperalgesia in Adolescents With Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Results From a Large Population-Based Study

“…RAP is a symptom based pediatric classification, with at least three attacks of abdominal pain during three consecutive months that interferes with daily activity, which includes a higher percentage of patients who also meet IBS diagnostic criteria. 19,53 In a sample of 21 RAP cases, Dufton, et al 18 found no differences in cold-pressor tolerance or pain intensity, which is consistent with our findings and those of Williams et al cited above. In a small sample including 20 RAP cases, Zohsel, et al found no difference in heat pain threshold or pressure pain threshold between cases and controls.…”

“…Few studies have examined somatic pain sensitivity among children with chronically recurring abdominal pain, and only one including pediatric IBS patients. 1,17,18,56,60 Results from these studies have been equivocal, possibly due to the relatively small samples sizes. Furthermore, there are no prospective studies of pain sensitivity among children with recurrent abdominal pain and IBS, but increased somatic pain sensitivity was found in one study among adolescents and young adults with a history of childhood chronic abdominal pain.…”

One-year course and predictors of abdominal pain in children with autism spectrum disorders: The role of anxiety and sensory over-responsivity

“…For example, recurrent abdominal pain in children has been associated with increased anxiety (Dufton, Dunn, & Compas, 2009;Dufton, Dunn, Slosky, & Compas, 2011;Walker & Greene, 1989). Longitudinal studies from the general population indicate that anxiety can contribute to the development of functional gastrointestinal problems over time (Koloski et al, 2012;Mulvaney, Lambert, Garber, & Walker, 2006), and that anxiety symptoms often pre-date the onset of functional abdominal pain in children (Shelby et al, 2013).…”

“…Longitudinal studies from the general population indicate that anxiety can contribute to the development of functional gastrointestinal problems over time (Koloski et al, 2012;Mulvaney, Lambert, Garber, & Walker, 2006), and that anxiety symptoms often pre-date the onset of functional abdominal pain in children (Shelby et al, 2013). Physiological studies have also found evidence of increased physiological stress reactivity (Dufton et al, 2011) and increased auditory startle reflexes (Bakker, Boer, Benninga, Koelman, & Tijssen, 2010) in children with functional abdominal pain.…”

The association between parenting behavior and somatization in adolescents explained by physiological responses in adolescents

“…When higher order brain centres detect events that are possibly harmful (instead of benign or irrelevant), sympathetic activity (energizing influence on various target organs) increases and parasympathetic activity (feeding, energy storage and Parenting behaviour and physiological responses 6 reproduction) decreases (Lovallo, 2005). Research on the link between physiological responses and somatisation revealed that somatisation is related to higher amounts of sympathetic and lower amounts of parasympathetic physiological activity in reaction to a variety of external events (Dietrich et al, 2011;Dorn et al, 2003;Dufton, Dunn, Slosky, & Compas, 2011;Rief & Auer, 2001;Tak & Rosemalen, 2007;Tak & Rosemalen, 2010). We are not aware of research on the relation between parenting behaviour and physiological responses of adolescents to parenting behaviour.…”