Gut-directed hypnotherapy versus standard medical treatment for nausea in children with functional nausea or functional dyspepsia: protocol of a multicentre randomised trial

A whole new world of healing: exploring medical hypnotherapy for pediatric patients : A review

This narrative review aims to unravel the potential of medical hypnotherapy for the treatment of children with a variety of diseases and symptoms. Going beyond its history and assumed neurophysiology, the chances of success for hypnotherapy will be outlined per pediatric speciality, accentuated by clinical research and experiences. Future implications and recommendations are given on extracting the positive effects of medical hypnotherapy for all pediatricians.    Conclusion: Medical hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for children with specified conditions such as abdominal pain or headache. Studies suggest effectiveness for other pediatric disciplines, from the first line up to third line of care. In a time in which health is defined as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being', hypnotherapy stays an underrated treatment option for children. It is a unique mind-body treatment, which true potential still needs to be unraveled. What is Known: • Mind-body health techniques become a more relevant and accepted part of treatment in pediatric patients. • Medical hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for children with specified conditions such as functional abdominal pain. What is New: • Studies suggest the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in a high variety of pediatric symptoms and disease. • Hypnotherapy is a unique mind-body treatment which potential goes far beyond its current utilization.

Skills or Pills: Randomized Trial Comparing Hypnotherapy to Medical Treatment in Children With Functional Nausea

BACKGROUND & AIMS

The potential effectiveness of gut-directed hypnotherapy (HT) is unknown for pediatric chronic nausea. This randomized controlled trial compared HT with standard medical treatment (SMT).

METHODS

One hundred children (ages, 8-18 y) with chronic nausea and fulfilling functional nausea (FN) or functional dyspepsia (FD) criteria were allocated randomly (1:1) to HT or SMT, with a 3-month intervention period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, at the halfway point, after treatment, and at the 6- and 12-month follow-up evaluation. Children scored nausea symptoms in a 7-day diary. The primary outcome was treatment success, defined as a reduction in nausea of 50% or more, at the 12-month follow-up evaluation. Secondary outcomes included adequate relief of nausea.

RESULTS

After treatment and at the 6-month follow-up evaluation, there was a trend toward higher treatment success in the HT group compared with the SMT group (45% vs 26%, P = .052; and 57% vs 40%, P = .099, respectively). At 12 months, treatment success was similar in both groups (60% in the HT group and 55% in the SMT group; P = .667). In the FN group, significantly higher success rates were found for HT, but no differences were found in patients with FD. Adequate relief was significantly higher in the HT group than in the SMT group at the 6-month follow-up evaluation (children: 81% vs 55%, P = .014; parents: 79% vs 53%; P = .016), but not at the 12-month follow-up evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

HT and SMT were effective in reducing nausea symptoms in children with FN and FD. In children with FN, HT was more effective than SMT during and after the first 6 months of treatment. Therefore, HT and SMT, applied separately or in combination, should be offered to children with FN as a treatment option (Clinical trials registration number: NTR5814).

Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Mediterranean Countries According to Rome IV Criteria

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in children of Mediterranean area using Rome IV criteria and to compare the prevalence of FGIDs using Rome IV and Rome III criteria.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study enrolling children and adolescents living in Croatia, Greece, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, and Serbia. Subjects were examined in relation to the presence of FGIDs, using the Rome IV criteria. Data were compared with the results of a previous study using Rome III data.

RESULTS

We analyzed 1972 children ages 4 to 9 years (group A), and 2450 adolescents 10 to 18 years old (group B). The overall prevalence of FGIDs was 16% in group A and 26% in group B, with statistical differences among countries in both groups (P < 0.001). In group A, the prevalence of FGIDs and of functional constipation (FC) was significantly lower than in the previous study (P < 0.001), whereas in group B no significant difference was found. In both groups of age, the prevalence of abdominal migraine and irritable bowel syndrome decreased significantly (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively) using Rome IV versus Rome III criteria, conversely functional dyspepsia increased (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

FGIDs are common in children and adolescents, their frequency increases with age, and there is a significant variation in the prevalence of some FGIDs among different European countries. The application of the Rome IV criteria resulted in a significantly lower prevalence of FGIDs in children compared with Rome III criteria.

Effect of Whole-Course Continuous Nursing Intervention Combined with a Nursing Practice Teaching Method on Quality of Life of Children with Functional Dyspepsia and Parents’ Satisfaction Based on Smart Health

With the development of information technology, it has become a part of people’s lives. WeChat is not only a popular chatting tool in daily life but can also be used in the medical field. Functional dyspepsia is a common pediatric disease, with complex pathogenic factors, which are usually attributed to abnormal gastric acid secretion and gastrointestinal dysfunction. In our research, we aim to investigate the effects of whole-course continuous nursing intervention combined with a nursing practice teaching method on the quality of life (QOL) of children with functional dyspepsia and parents’ satisfaction. One hundred and twenty children with functional dyspepsia admitted to our hospital (February 2019–February 2020) were retrospectively analyzed and equally divided into the experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) according to the order of admission. The CG received whole-course continuous nursing intervention, and the EG received whole-course continuous nursing intervention combined with the nursing practice teaching method. Children’s psychological states and QOL and parents’ satisfaction of both groups were compared. After discharge, compared with the CG, the negative emotion scores in the EG were remarkably lower ( $P<0.001$ ). After discharge, compared with the CG, the QOL scores ( $P<0.001$ ), the proportion of children with good and excellent QOL ( $P<0.05$ ), and parents’ satisfaction ( $P<0.001$ ) in the EG were remarkably higher. For children with functional dyspepsia, whole-course continuous nursing intervention combined with the nursing practice teaching method can improve their negative emotions, QOL, and parents’ satisfaction, which should be popularized in practice.

Proceedings of the 2018 Advances In Motility and In NeuroGastroenterology: AIMING for the Future Single Topic Symposium

OBJECTIVES

Motility and functional disorders are common in children and often debilitating, yet these disorders remain challenging to treat effectively. At the 2018 Annual North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition meeting, the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Committee held a full day symposium entitled, 2018 Advances In Motility and In NeuroGastroenterology - AIMING for the future. The symposium aimed to explore clinical paradigms in pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders and provided a foundation for advancing new scientific and therapeutic research strategies.

METHODS

The symposium brought together leading experts throughout North America to review the state of the art in the diagnosis and management of motility and functional disorders in children. Presentations were divided into esophageal, antral duodenal, and colorectal modules. Each module included oral presentations by experts in the respective fields, leading to thought-provoking discussions. There were 2 breakout sessions with small group discussions on select topics, focusing on defining scientific insights into the diagnosis and management of pediatric functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders in a systematic, segment-based approach.

CONCLUSIONS

The field of neurogastroenterology has made remarkable progress in the last decade. The current report summarizes the major learning points from the symposium highlighting the diagnosis and promising therapies on the horizon for pediatric neurogastrointestinal and motility disorders.