Patients with psychogenic abdominal pain: six years' observation in the medical setting
Abstract
The author presents data on 24 patients with psychogenic abdominal pain who were followed by nonpsychiatric physicians for up to 6 years. Twenty were women, many of whose symptoms related to loss. Several personality patterns were observed, including histrionic personality, depression, pain-prone personality, and hypochondriasis. No patient sought psychiatric care, although 4 patients eventually required psychiatric hospitalization. Two patients had medical disorders that contributed to the symptoms, and 1 patient died of carcinoma. Pain resolved in only 1 of the patients, but psychosocial functioning improved in half. Those with a shorter duration of pain and no abnormal personality patterns had a better prognosis.
Access content
To read the fulltext, please use one of the options below to sign in or purchase access.- Personal login
- Institutional Login
- Sign in via OpenAthens
- Register for access
-
Please login/register if you wish to pair your device and check access availability.
Not a subscriber?
PsychiatryOnline subscription options offer access to the DSM-5 library, books, journals, CME, and patient resources. This all-in-one virtual library provides psychiatrists and mental health professionals with key resources for diagnosis, treatment, research, and professional development.
Need more help? PsychiatryOnline Customer Service may be reached by emailing [email protected] or by calling 800-368-5777 (in the U.S.) or 703-907-7322 (outside the U.S.).