In a small pilot study, researchers from the Department of Pediatrics at Steele Memorial Children's Research Center and the University of Arizona's College of Medicine investigated whether guided imagery could reduce recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children -- a condition known to be refractory and difficult to treat.

Ten children with recurrent abdominal pain were trained in relaxation and guided imagery during 4 weekly 50-minute sessions, after being evaluated by a pediatric gastroenterologist. Questionnaires were completed by parents and children at enrollment, and pain diaries were completed at 0,1, and 2 months.

The study found that the children experienced a 67% decrease in pain during the therapy (chi-square for trend, p < 0.001), in spite of the fact that this condition had been refractory to conventional treatment by their regular physician and their pediatric gastroenterology specialist. There were no baseline psychological characteristics that impacted the response to the guided imagery therapy.

The study concludes that guided imagery is an effective and safe treatment for childhood RAP.

Citation: Ball TM, Shapiro DE, Monheim CJ, Weydert JA. A pilot study of the use of guided imagery for the treatment of recurrent abdominal pain in children. Clinical Pediatrics (Phila). 2003 Jul-Aug; 42 (6): pp. 527-32.

Posted: 12/21/2006



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