Abdominal Pain, Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome
Conditions
Keywords
Functional abdominal pain, psychological intervention, quality of life, Randomized controlled trial, children
Brief summary
This trial aims to compare two training programs for children suffering functional abdominal pain. These two programs are comparable in number of sessions and group sizes, but show differences in content (very focused on pain management vs. more general information and support). Focus of the trial is the evaluation of Stop the pain, which has shown high effectiveness in one first trial. This time, five clinics, experienced in diagnosis and treatment of childhood chronic abdominal pain, will take part. Children aged 7-12 years are eligible. The programs imply six weekly group sessions for the children and 2 parent evenings. The study group assumes that participation in Stop the pain will reduce pain experience and will improve the children's quality of life and coping strategies - up to 12 months after training.
Detailed description
The trial aims to assess the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral self-management program (intervention group, IG) compared to an equally extensive information-only control group (CG). The interventions contain 6 weekly group sessions and 2 parent meetings according to the cognitive-behavioral, manualized program Stop the pain with Happy Pingu. Follow up per patient: 3- and 12 months. Children aged 7-12 years suffering functional abdominal pain (according to Rome III criteria H2a, H2b, H2d, H2d1) are eligible. Our primary hypothesis is that for patients in the IG the frequency and intensity of pain will be reduced more successfully and more sustainable than for children in the CG. Secondary hypotheses state that the IG will experience a higher increase in quality of life and psychosocial well-being compared to the active CG.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALActive control group
Education and information
BEHAVIORALIntervention group
Cognitive-behavioral intervention
Sponsors
University of Potsdam
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
7 Years to 12 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
for medical screening: * aged 7-12 years * abdominal pain for at least 2 months * abdominal pain at least once per week * unclear cause for abdominal pain
Exclusion criteria
for medical screening: * very limited German language skills * mental retardation * adjuvant psychological treatment at point of medical screening * participation in a trainingsprogram for abdominal pain in the 6 months prior to medical screening * participation in a clinical trial which possibly may have effects on abdominal pain in the 4 weeks prior to medical screening * at point of medical screening: therapy or medication for abdominal pain * presentation of sibling aged 7-12 years Inclusion Criteria for study participation: * pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders according to Rome-III * criteria (H2a, H2b, H2d, H2d1) * informed consent for study particiaption * informed consent for audiotaping of trainings sessions * no time constraints for participation in training groups
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Pain Symptoms | up to 21 days pre intervention, up to 21 days post intervention, 3 month-follow-up, 12 month-follow-up | Primary efficacy endpoint is the frequency and intensity of pain (composite score) over the course of treatment and follow-up (pre, post, 3 and 12 months follow-up). This primary outcome will be assessed by pain diary in children's self-report (over 2 weeks).Statistically, the primary endpoint of the study is defined as the change of the logarithm of the area under the pain-intensity curve over one week from start of treatment to 12 month follow-up. The area under the pain intensity curve (auc) is a measure that reflects pain intensity as well as pain duration and pain frequency and thus can be understood as a composite measure of pain. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain-related impairment | up to 21 days pre intervention, up to 21 days post intervention, 3 month-follow-up, 12 month-follow-up | A measure for child's functional disability due to pain. The measure is one scale score and covers the level of impairment in everyday activitites due to abdominal pain by 12 items, e.g. reading, meeting friends, family life. The secondary outcome variable will be assessed by self-report questionnaire (pre, post, 3- and 12 months follow-up). |
| Health-related quality of life | up to 21 days pre intervention, up to 21 days post intervention, 3 month-follow-up, 12 month-follow-up | The secondary outcome variable will be assessed by self-report questionnaire (pre, post, 3- and 12 months follow-up). |
| Pain-related coping and cognitions | up to 21 days pre intervention, up to 21 days post intervention, 3 month-follow-up, 12 month-follow-up | The secondary outcome variable will be assessed by self-report questionnaire (pre, post, 3- and 12 months follow-up). |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed