Functional constipation.
Conditions
Interventions
Intervention period for both conventional treatment (CT) and behavioral therapy (BT) consisted of 12 visits to the outpatient clinic during 22 weeks.
Conventional Treatment:
CT was conducted by ped
16:312-316). Basic assumption of this BT is that fearful and phobic reactions related to defecation and fecal incontinence can be reduced and that adequate defecation straining and toileting behavior
Sponsors
This research was funded by grants from the MLDS (SWO 02-16).
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Children aged 4-18 years with functional constipation as defined by the classic Iowa criteria. Patients had to meet at least two of four criteria of pediatric constipation: defecation frequency less than three times per week, fecal incontinence frequency two or more times per week, passage of large amounts of stool at least once every 7-30 days (large enough to clog the toilet), or a palpable abdominal or rectal fecal mass.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Children were excluded from the study if they had already been treated at our gastrointestinal outpatient clinic or had received a comprehensive behavioral treatment in the previous 12 months. In addition, children using drugs influencing gastrointestinal function other than laxative and children with organic causes for defecation disorders such as Hirschsprung's disease, spina bifida occulta, hypothyroidism or other metabolic or renal abnormalities were excluded.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Defecation frequency (DF) per week, fecal incontinence frequency (FIF) per week, successful treatment and relapse. Success was defined as DF >= 3 times/week and FIF <= 1 times/two weeks irrespectively of laxative use. A relapse was defined as being unsuccessful at follow-up, while being successful at posttreatment. Assessments were done posttreatment and at 6-months follow-up during a clinical visit or by telephone. | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcome measures were: stool-withholding behavior, mean CBCL T-scores and the proportion of children with behavioral scores in the clinical range (T-score>63). Assessments were done posttreatment and at 6-months follow-up during a clinical visit or by telephone. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactMarc A. Benninga
Kinderarts MDL, AMC, H7-248 P.O. Box 22660
Outcome results
None listed