Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Adolescents With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: a Pilot Study

Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Adolescents With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: a Pilot Study

This pilot-study aims to evaluate the treatment effects and feasibility of an internet-delivered CBT-program for adolescents with functional gastrointestinal disorders.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID), including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD) and functional abdominal pain (FAP), are common in adolescents and associated with impaired quality of life. In adults with IBS, internet-delivered CBT leads to reduced symptoms and increased quality of life, but studies in children are lacking. This pilot-study aim to evaluate the treatment effects and feasibility of an internet-delivered CBT-program for adolescents with FGID.

Method: Pilot study with a pre-post-design and no control group. The internet-delivered CBT-program lasted for 8 weeks and included weekly therapist support, consisting of online messages and telephone calls. Assessment points were baseline, post-treatment and 6 months follow-up.

Analysis: Effect sizes and within-group differences were calculated in an intent-to-treat analysis using Cohens' d and Student's t-test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age between 13 and 17 years old.
• a diagnosis of a functional gastrointestinal disorder by treating physician, e.g. IBS, FD or FAP.
• adolescent and one parent should have easy access to the Internet, some computer experience and good Swedish language skills.

Exclusion Criteria:

• concurrent serious medical conditions or gastrointestinal symptoms likely caused by an organic disorder.
• psychiatric diagnosis more urgent to treat than the abdominal pain.
• on-going psychological treatment.
• absence from school more than 20%.
• on-going maltreatment, violence or severe parental psychiatric illness in the family.
• pronounced language and learning difficulties depending on whether the youth was expected to benefit from the treatment or not.