Abstract
EDITORIALCOMMENT A study ofthepsychiatric background ofpatients withabdominal pain without demonstrable physical disease. Thepatients came fromsignificantly larger sibships than a control population andscored highfor'neuroticism'. Thepatients' symptomsoften beganina setting ofbereavement orsome other upheaval intheir lives. Anumber ofpatients wereconsiderably depressed whenseenandtreatment fordepression was followed bydisappearance ofpain. This offers an important therapeutic approach inmany patients. A considerable proportion ofthepatients atany medical out-patient clinic havenoorganic lesion to account fortheir symptoms (see review byMcClay, 1965). Oneofthecommonest complaints inthis category ispain andwhenthis occurs intheabdomen itmaywellgive rise todifficulty indiagnosis and treatment. Theabsence oforganic disease insuchapatient implies anincreased likelihood thatpsychological factors mayplay animportant partintheaetiology ofthepatient's symptoms. Inorder toexplore this possibility andalso toattempt totrytodefine the clinical picture ofabdominal painoccurring inthe absence ofstructural change, a groupofthese patients wascarefully investigated bothfromthe clinical andpsychological points ofview. STUDYAND METHOD
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
