Internet-delivered CBT for Children With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders - an Open Pilot Study

Internet-delivered Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Children With Pain-predominant Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders - an Open Pilot Study

This pilot-study aims to evaluate the effect size and feasibility of internet-delivered cognitive behavior therapy (ICBT) for children (age 8-12 years) with pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders (e.g. irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain and functional dyspepsia according to the Rome III criteria). The main component investigated in this study is exposure for gastrointestinal symptoms and for feared stimuli and situations. Children will participate along with one of their parents in the treatment. The parents will also receive specific modules with information on how to support their child in the treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children between 8-12 years (until their 13th birthday) who have been diagnosed with any of the diagnoses irritable bowel syndrome, functional dyspepsia or functional abdominal pain according to the Rome III criteria.
• Any psychopharmacological medication should be stable since 1 month.
• Parents and children need to master Swedish, have access to a computer with internet access, and be willing to participate in 10 weeks of treatment with homework.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Simultaneous presence of serious somatic disease and / or if the child meets the criteria for other organic disease which better explains the symptoms.
• Psychiatric or social problems that are considered serious and in need of a more intense treatment than ICBT leads to exclusion. Children with higher school absenteeism than 40% will not be included. Neither will children who have an ongoing psychological treatment be included,