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. 2024 Apr;78(4):846-852.
doi: 10.1002/jpn3.12165. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Drawing the abdominal pain: A powerful tool to distinguish between organic and functional abdominal pain

Joachim Opp  1 , Mia Schürmann  2 , Andreas Jenke  3 , Barbara Job  4
Affiliations

Drawing the abdominal pain: A powerful tool to distinguish between organic and functional abdominal pain

Joachim Opp et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: Abdominal pain (AP) in children imposes a large economic burden on the healthcare system. Currently, there are no reliable diagnostic tools to differentiate between organic and functional disorders. We hypothesized from previous research that the analysis of patients' graphic expression of subjective symptoms as well as their interactional behavior adds new ways to differentiate between functional and organic AP.

Methods: Conversation analyses of physician-patient-encounters and graphical expression of AP-based pain were performed.

Results: Twenty-two interactions were recorded and analyzed. Fifteen children were diagnosed with organic AP and seven with functional AP. We found marked differences between children with organic and functional AP. For example, all 15 children with organic AP saw the task of drawing a picture of the pain during the interview as a duty, whereas the seven children with functional AP took this as an opportunity to provide detailed descriptions about the nature of the pain, the circumstances, and how the AP impaired their quality of life.

Conclusion: Analysis of patients' interaction strategies in response to the painting task provides relevant clues as to whether AP is functional or requires further workup for organic causes.

Keywords: AP; children; conversation analysis; interaction.

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References

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