Validation of a Mental Health Scale for Young People With Chronic Stomach Symptoms

Validation of the Youth Version of the Alimetry Gut-Brain Wellbeing Survey: A Mental Health Scale for Patients With Chronic Gastroduodenal Symptoms

This study aims to validate the Alimetry® Gut-Brain Wellbeing Survey- Youth Version (AGBW-Y), a mental health scale developed for patients aged 12-17 years with chronic stomach symptoms.

There is currently a lack of validated questionnaires developed to assess mental health within patients with chronic stomach symptoms. Our team has therefore developed and validated a new mental health scale for patients with gastroduodenal symptoms, the Alimetry® Gut-Brain Wellbeing (AGBW) Survey.

However, the AGBW Survey was developed and validated for patients aged 18 years and over. Therefore, the Alimetry® Gut-Brain Wellbeing Survey- Youth Version (AGBW- Y) was developed for use in patients with chronic gastroduodenal symptoms aged 12-17 years. This scale is adapted from the adult AGBW Survey, with more appropriate wording for this age group.

This study will distribute an anonymous, online survey to adolescent patients with chronic gastroduodenal symptoms aged 12-17 years. This survey will ask questions about a patient's general demographics, gastrointestinal symptoms, and mental health in order to assess the validity and reliability of the AGBW-Y.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 12-17 years
• Able to read and write fluently in English
• Meet the Rome IV criteria and/or have a self-reported previous clinical diagnosis for at least one of the following childhood gastroduodenal DGBIs: gastroparesis, cyclic vomiting syndrome, functional nausea, functional vomiting, rumination syndrome, aerophagia, or functional dyspepsia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with self-induced vomiting
• Patients with an eating disorder