Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39810509›Full record

ArticleClinical and experimental pediatrics2025

Anxiety disorders presenting as gastrointestinal symptoms in children - a scoping review.

Anjali Kumar, Pramodh Vallabhaneni

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Clinical and experimental pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Anjali KumarSwansea University, Swansea, UK.
Pramodh VallabhaneniMorriston Hospital, Swansea, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) and their association with anxiety disorders in children significantly impact a child's functioning and treatment response. This study aimed to scope the evidence of anxiety disorders manifesting as FGID in children up to 16 years old. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted on Embase (1974-2024), MEDLINE (via EBSCOHost 1946-2024), and APA PsycINFO (via EBSCOHost 1967-2024). Articles were retrieved, screened, and assessed for bias using the GRADE system. Our initial search yielded 1984 articles. After screening titles and abstracts, 53 articles remained. Full-text screening further narrowed this to 4 eligible studies. The first study found that anxiety indirectly influenced abdominal pain severity in children with irritable bowel syndrome. The second study reported an association between anxiety and abdominal pain but found that anxiety might not predict abdominal pain in later childhood. The third study suggested FGID could be a risk factor for anxiety, with higher anxiety rates in children with FGID compared to those without. The fourth study found no significant difference in pain intensity between children with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) alone and those with FAPD and anxiety. The reviewed studies indicate a relationship between anxiety and FGID but lack clarity on directionality or causation. The limited number of studies calls for more research, including case-control studies with large sample sizes and longitudinal cohort studies to investigate the incidence and causation.

Indexed as

AnxietyFunctional abdominal pain disorderFunctional gastrointestinal disorderGeneralised anxiety disorderIrritable bowel syndrome

Identifiers

PMID39810509
PMCPMC12062388

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.