%0 Journal Article %J Pain Res Manag %D 2012 %T Functional abdominal pain in childhood: background studies and recent research trends. %A Levy, Rona L %A van Tilburg, Miranda A L %K Abdominal Pain %K Biomedical Research %K Cetrimonium Compounds %K Child %K Drug Combinations %K Humans %K Longitudinal Studies %K Myristates %K Nicotinic Acids %K Pediatrics %K Simethicone %K Stearic Acids %X

The present review summarizes many of the major research trends investigated in the past five years regarding pediatric functional abdominal pain, and also summarizes the primary related findings from the authors' research program. Specific areas discussed based on work within the authors' group include familial illness patterns, genetics, traits, and mechanisms or processes related to abdominal pain. Topics covered from research published in the past five years include prevalence and cost, longitudinal follow-up, overlap with other disorders, etiology and mechanisms behind functional abdominal pain and treatment studies. It is hoped that findings from this work in abdominal pain will be interpreted as a framework for understanding the processes by which other pain phenomena and, more broadly, reactions to any physical state, can be developed and maintained in children. The present article concludes with recommendations for clinical practice and research.

%B Pain Res Manag %V 17 %P 413-7 %8 2012 Nov-Dec %G eng %N 6 %0 Journal Article %J BMC Complement Altern Med %D 2008 %T Complementary and alternative medicine use and cost in functional bowel disorders: a six month prospective study in a large HMO. %A van Tilburg, Miranda A L %A Palsson, Olafur S %A Levy, Rona L %A Feld, Andrew D %A Turner, Marsha J %A Drossman, Douglas A %A Whitehead, William E %K Abdominal Pain %K Adult %K Complementary Therapies %K Constipation %K Cost-Benefit Analysis %K Delivery of Health Care, Integrated %K Diarrhea %K Female %K Ginger %K Health Maintenance Organizations %K Humans %K Irritable Bowel Syndrome %K Male %K Massage %K Middle Aged %K Patient Satisfaction %K Phytotherapy %K Professional-Patient Relations %K Prospective Studies %K Surveys and Questionnaires %K United States %K Yoga %X

BACKGROUND: Functional Bowel Disorders (FBD) are chronic disorders that are difficult to treat and manage. Many patients and doctors are dissatisfied with the level of improvement in symptoms that can be achieved with standard medical care which may lead them to seek alternatives for care. There are currently no data on the types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) used for FBDs other than Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or on the economic costs of CAM treatments. The aim of this study is to determine prevalence, types and costs of CAM in IBS, functional diarrhea, functional constipation, and functional abdominal pain.

METHODS: 1012 Patients with FBD were recruited through a health care maintenance organization and followed for 6 months. Questionnaires were used to ascertain: Utilization and expenditures on CAM, symptom severity (IBS-SS), quality of life (IBS-QoL), psychological distress (BSI) and perceived treatment effectiveness. Costs for conventional medical care were extracted from administrative claims.

RESULTS: CAM was used by 35% of patients, at a median yearly cost of $200. The most common CAM types were ginger, massage therapy and yoga. CAM use was associated with female gender, higher education, and anxiety. Satisfaction with physician care and perceived effectiveness of prescription medication were not associated with CAM use. Physician referral to a CAM provider was uncommon but the majority of patients receiving this recommendation followed their physician's advice.

CONCLUSION: CAM is used by one-third of FBD patients. CAM use does not seem to be driven by dissatisfaction with conventional care. Physicians should discuss CAM use and effectiveness with their patients and refer patients if appropriate.

%B BMC Complement Altern Med %V 8 %P 46 %8 2008 %G eng %R 10.1186/1472-6882-8-46