A Pilot Study to Assess the Efficacy of Biofeedback-Assisted Relaxation Training as an Adjunct Treatment for Pediatric Functional Dyspepsia Associated with Duodenal Eosinophilia

• Published in: Journal of pediatric psychology Vol. 35; no. 8; pp. 837 - 847
• Main Authors: Schurman, Jennifer V., Wu, Yelena P., Grayson, Paula, Friesen, Craig A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta, GA Oxford University Press 01.09.2010
• Subjects: Abdominal Pain - therapy; Adolescent; Analysis of Variance; biofeedback and relaxation; Biofeedback, Psychology - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child clinical studies; chronic and recurrent pain; Combined Modality Therapy; Duodenal Diseases - complications; Duodenal Diseases - therapy; Dyspepsia - complications; Dyspepsia - therapy; Eosinophilia - complications; Eosinophilia - therapy; Female; gastroenterology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; longitudinal research; Male; Medical sciences; Other diseases. Semiology; Pain Measurement; Pilot Projects; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life; randomized controlled trial; Relaxation Therapy - methods; Relaxation. Biofeedback. Hypnosis. Selfregulation. Meditation; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surveys and Questionnaires; Treatment Outcome; Treatments; Human; Pilot; Pediatrics; Relapse; Dyspepsia; Controlled therapeutic trial; Hemopathy; gastroenterology; Eosinophilia; biofeedback and relaxation; randomized controlled trial; Relaxation; longitudinal research; Chronic; Pain; Treatment; chronic and recurrent pain; Follow up study; Digestive diseases; Biofeedback; Child
• ISSN: 0146-8693; 1465-735X
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsq010

Objectives To conduct a pilot study examining whether adding biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART) to medication treatment results in better clinical outcomes than medication treatment alone for children with functional dyspepsia (FD) associated with duodenal eosinophilia, a subgroup of children with recurrent abdominal pain. Methods Twenty children were randomly assigned to receive a standardized medication treatment or medication plus 10 sessions of BART. Children and parents completed psychosocial functioning and quality of life measures at baseline, posttreatment, and 6 months. Children rated pain daily via PDA. Physicians provided biweekly assessments of clinical improvement. Results Children receiving medication plus BART demonstrated better outcomes on pain intensity, duration of pain episodes, and clinical improvement than children receiving medication alone. Conclusions BART is a promising adjunctive treatment for pediatric FD associated with duodenal eosinophilia. Electronic daily diaries appear to be a useful approach to assessing changes in self-reported pain ratings in this population.