[Cognitive behavioural therapy of functional recurrent abdominal pain in children].

Recurrent abdominal pain affects 10-20% of schoolchildren and is responsible for 2-4% of all pediatric office visits. In about 90% of cases the pain is termed functional as it cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities and medical treatment has only modest efficacy. Cognitive behavioural therapy of functional abdominal pain in children is a more recent treatment. A systematic literature review identifies only 5 randomised, controlled trials. The results from these studies indicate that the treatment reduces pain intensity and the frequency of pain episodes.