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Review
. 2023 Nov;112(11):2312-2316.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16946. Epub 2023 Aug 18.

Stress and recurrent abdominal pain

Gösta Alfvén  1 , Eva Andersson  2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Stress and recurrent abdominal pain

Gösta Alfvén et al. Acta Paediatr. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

We discuss the aetiology of recurrent abdominal pain of non-organic origin, according to the Rome Criteria for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and a psychogenic hypothesis. Stress activates the brain-gut axis, which is important for local gut symptoms, such as abdominal pain, but it also causes pain in other areas, including the head, back and chest. Our research has indicated that the startle reflex plays a dominant role in this stress-induced pain pattern, which is manifested in the whole body. Localised abdominal pain can be part of a general negative stress reaction that causes multiple pains in other areas of the body.

Keywords: abdominal pain; chronic stress; functional pain; psychosomatic; startle reflex.

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References

REFERENCES

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    1. Moro E. Über rezidivierende Nabelkoliken bei alteren Kindern. Münch Medizin Wochen (Translation Required). 1913;60:2827-2829.

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