Sleep disturbances in children with abdominal pain-associated disorder

Introduction

Chronic abdominal pain is very common in youth, particularly adolescents.¹ While identifiable disease is present in some of these children and adolescents, the strong majority will not have a well-defined disease accounting for symptoms. Most will meet criteria for an abdominal pain-associated disorder of gut-brain interaction (AP-DGBI).^2–4 As the name implies, these conditions are believed to arise from an interaction between the gastrointestinal tract and the central and peripheral nervous systems. They are best conceptualized through a biopsychosocial model which recognizes biologic (eg, dysmotility, inflammation, visceral hypersensitivity), psychological (eg, anxiety, depression, coping), and social factors (eg, interactions with family, peers, teachers).⁵ These factors interact with each other, and…