In order to determine prognosis in children in whom the diagnosis of “functional” or psychosomatic abdominal pain had been made, a questionnaire was sent to parents of 170 children in whom the diagnosis had been made at least 5 yr previously. Responses were obtained for 161 patients (pt) (94.7%). In this group (100 girls, 61 boys), all symptoms disappeared in 92 pt (57.1%) within a few weeks after diagnosis and reassurance by the examining physician. In 31 pt (19.3%), symptoms subsided from 1 to 9 yr (mean 3.2 yr) after diagnosis. Symptoms remained unchanged in 15 pt (9.3%) and became worse in 7 (4.3%). Sixteen responders failed to comment on symptomatic outcome. After the original diagnosis had been made, 21 pt were subjected to surgical procedures elsewhere; these included appendectomy, removal of “ovarian cysts,” tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, and laminectomy. Six pt thought that they had been helped by these procedures, but 12 pt either continued to have abdominal pain or had multiple psychosomatic complaints. In 3 pt, the diagnosis of Crohn's disease ultimately was established and surgical procedures were done. No other cause of organic bowel disease was detected. In 1 pt, anorexia nervosa was later diagnosed. We conclude that organic disease is seldom overlooked in pt considered to have functional or psychosomatic abdominal pain. The symptoms eventually disappeared in approximately 75% of these pt; those with persistent symptoms should be followed more carefully to avoid unnecessary surgery or the development of other psychosomatic complaints.