OZR Back-up mandate: A paradigm shift in rehabilitation for pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders

Functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) are common in school- age children, cause great suffering to patients and their families and have a considerable socio-economic impact. Because currently there is little high-quality evidence available to guide decisions for
treatment in these patients, we here propose a paradigm shift in rehabilitation for pediatric FAPD through a novel and scientifically well-substantiated contemporary neuroscience approach (i.e. pain neuroscience education + cognition-targeted functional exercises) aimed at supporting subsequent self-management. The primary goal of this research proposal is to investigate whether this approach is
more effective in improving abdominal pain in 8-12 years old children with FAPD compared to the current best evidence therapy (i.e. hypnotherapy). This will be investigated in a multicenter randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up. Given the positive effects of this approach in adults with chronic pain, the successful proof-of- concept data in adolescents with chronic pain, and the effectiveness of pain neuroscience education as a stand-alone approach in the target population (i.e. young children with FAPD), we hypothesize
that the proposed contemporary neuroscience approach will be more effective in reducing children’s abdominal pain, improve their physical and psychosocial functioning and their quality of life at long-term compared to current best evidence therapy (i.e. hypnotherapy).