Increased Auditory Startle Reflex in Children with Functional Abdominal Pain - 07/03/14
, Frits Boer, MD, PhD c, Marc A. Benninga, MD, PhD b, Johannes H.T.M. Koelman, MD, PhD a, Marina A.J. Tijssen, MD, PhD a
Reprint requests: Dr Mirte Bakker, Department of Psychiatry, St Radboud University Medical Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands.Abstract |
Objective |
To test the hypothesis that children with abdominal pain–related functional gastrointestinal disorders have a general hypersensitivity for sensory stimuli.
Study design |
Auditory startle reflexes were assessed in 20 children classified according to Rome III classifications of abdominal pain–related functional gastrointestinal disorders (13 irritable bowel syndrome [IBS], 7 functional abdominal pain syndrome; mean age, 12.4 years; 15 girls) and 23 control subjects (14 girls; mean age, 12.3 years) using a case-control design. The activity of 6 left-sided muscles and the sympathetic skin response were obtained by an electromyogram. We presented sudden loud noises to the subjects through headphones.
Results |
Both the combined response of 6 muscles and the blink response proved to be significantly increased in patients with abdominal pain compared with control subjects. A significant increase of the sympathetic skin response was not found. Comorbid anxiety disorders (8 patients with abdominal pain) or Rome III subclassification did not significantly affect these results.
Conclusions |
This study demonstrates an objective hyperresponsivity to nongastrointestinal stimuli. Children with abdominal pain–related functional gastrointestinal disorders may have a generalized hypersensitivity of the central nervous system.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Mots-clés : ASR, EMG, IBS
Plan
| The authors declare no conflicts of interest. |
Vol 156 - N° 2
P. 285 - février 2010 Retour au numéro
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