Recurrent abdominal pain in adolescents: Psychosocial correlates of organic and nonorganic pain

Recurrent abdominal pain is associated with a host of adverse social and financial consequences. Theoretical models have suggested numerous psychosocial factors that may contribute to the formation and maintenance of recurrent abdominal pain. To date, studies comparing groups with organically and nonorganically based pain on psychosocial variables have yielded inconsistent results. Adolescents diagnosed with organic (n = 25) and nonorganic (n = 24) abdominal pain and a control group of siblings of children with chronic constipation (n = 19) were compared on psychological, behavioral, and familial dimensions. Adolescents with nonorganic abdominal pain reported a significantly higher frequency of related symptoms than both comparison groups. However, groups did not significantly differ on adolescent or maternal-reported measures of anxiety, locus of control, life events, family environment, or behavior problems. Greater methodological rigor and selection of control group participants who shared the contextual experiences of living in a family with a chronically ill child may account for these findings.