Browsing by Author "Nishanthini, S."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Abdominal pain predominant functional gastrointestinal diseases: association with child abuse, traumatic life events and quality of life
(Wiley Blackwell Scientific Publications, 2012) Devanarayana, N.M.; Rajindrajith, S.; Karunanayake, A.; Nishanthini, S.; Perera, M.S.; Benninga, M.A.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Abdominal pain predominant functional gastrointestinal diseases (AP-FGD) have significant repercussions on affected individuals. Aims of this study were to assess its association with traumatic life events and child abuse, and its impact on quality of life. METHODS: Children aged 13–18 years were randomly selected from 3 schools in Western province of Sri Lanka. A previously validated, self administered questionnaire was used to collect information on gastrointestinal symptoms, traumatic life events, exposure to abuse, healthcare consultation and quality of life (QOL). AP-FGD were diagnosed using Rome III criteria. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 1365 children were recruited [males 749 (54.9%), mean age 14.2 years and SD 1.22 years]. AP-FGD were found in 243 (17.8%) children [Irritable bowel syndrome in 70 (5.1%), functional dyspepsia in 11 (0.8%), abdominal migraine in 26 (1.9%) and functional abdominal pain in 146 (10.7%)]. Prevalence of AP-FGDs were significantly higher in those exposed to traumatic life events (37.9% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.03), sexual abuse (35.3% vs. 17.3%, p = 0.01), physical abuse (19.7% vs. 12.6%, p = 0.0003), and emotional abuse (27.4% vs. 16.9%, p < 0.0001). Health care consultation was significantly higher in children exposed to physical abuse (26.4% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.03). QOL scores for physical (85.7 vs. 89.6), emotional (71.7 vs. 79.4), social (85.9 vs. 92.3) and school (74.3 vs. 81.1) function domains were significantly lower in children with AP-FGD who were exposed to emotional abuse (p < 0.05). QOL scores for school function domain was lower in children exposed to physical abuse (77.8 vs. 83.6, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic life events and child abuse in any form are significantly associated with higher prevalence of AP-FGD. Children exposed to physical abuse are more likely to seek healthcare for abdominal pain. Children with AP-FGD, exposed to emotional abuse, have significantly poor quality of life in all four domains.
Children and adolescents with constipation: Do they have different personalities?
(Wiley Blackwell Scientific Publications, 2012) Ranasinghe, N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Devanarayana, N.M.; Warnakulasuriya, T.; Nishanthini, S.; Perera, M.S.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Children with constipation are known to have behavioral and psychological problems. This may partly be due to difference in their personality. Aim of this study is to assess the different personality traits in children having functional constipation. METHOD: We conducted a cross sectional survey in 5 schools in the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. Children and adolescents between 13–18 years were included in the study. Previously validated questionnaires were used to collect bowel habits and demographic data. Translated and validated personality assessment questionnaire (PAQ) was used to assess the personality. Rome III criteria were used to diagnose constipation. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 1697 children were recruited [males 778 (45.9%), mean age 15.1 years and SD 1.66 years]. Prevalence of constipation was 6% (102 children). They were compared with 1018 normal children (controls). Seventy eight (76.5%) children with constipation and 426 (41.8%) of controls had PAQ scores above the normative value for Sri Lankan children (89) (p <0.0001). When the international normative value of 105 was used, 33 (32.4%) children with constipation and 111 (10.8%) of controls had psychological maladjustment (p < 0.001). Furthermore Children with constipation scored significant higher scores for different personality traits than controls. They include hostility and aggression (14.1 vs. 12.1 in controls p < 0.001), negative self esteem (11.7 vs. 10.2 in controls p < 0.001), negative self adequacy (11.7 vs. 9.5 controls p < 0.001), emotional unresponsiveness (12.7 vs. 11.1 controls p < 0.001), emotional instability (17.3 vs. 15.0 p < 0.001), and negative world view (12.1 vs. 9.9 controls p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Children with constipation have significant psychological maladjustment than healthy controls. This maladjustment was prominent in hostility and aggression, negative self esteem, negative self adequacy, emotional unresponsiveness, emotional instability and negative world view domains. Addressing these issues is important in the management of children with constipation.
Personality assessment in children with abdominal pain predominant functional gastrointestinal diseases
(Wiley Blackwell Scientific Publications, 2012) Ranasinghe, N.; Rajindrajith, S.; Devanarayana, N.M.; Warnakulasuriya, T.; Nishanthini, S.; Perera, M.S.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic abdominal pain is a commonly associated with psychological problems. This study aimed to evaluate the personality traits in teenagers with abdominal pain predominant functional gastrointestinal diseases (AP-FGD). METHODS: Data regarding gastrointestinal symptoms, and personality assessment were collected from teenagers aged 13–18 years from 5 randomly selected schools in Ampare district of Sri Lanka. AP-FGD were diagnosed using Rome III criteria. Translated and validated personality assessment questionnaire (PAQ) was used to assess the total personality maladjustment score and personality domains; namely hostility and aggression, dependency, lack of self esteem, lack of self adequacy, emotional instability, emotional unresponsiveness, and negative world view. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of 1697 children were recruited [males 778 (45.9%), mean age 15.1 years and SD 1.66 years]. AP-FGD were seen in 202 (11.9%) teenagers. They were compared with 1051 normal children. When the cutoff value for Sri Lankan children (89) was used, 66.3% of with AP-FGD and 42.5% controls had PAQ scores within that of psychological maladjustment (p < 0.001). When the international normative value of 105 was used, these percentages were 27.2% and 11.2% respectively (p < 0.0001). Subgroup analysis revealed similar differences in all 4 subtypes of AP-FGD compared to controls (p < 0.05). Children with AP-FGD had significant higher mean scores for all personality domains compared to controls except for dependence (p < 0.05). Children with irritable bowel syndrome and abdominal migraine also showed similar results (p < 0.05). Apart from dependency and emotional instability children with functional dyspepsia were noted to have higher mean scores for all other personality domains (p < 0.05). In addition, children with functional abdominal pain had signifi cantly higher mean scores for all personality domains except dependency and negative world view (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological maladjustment is significantly more common in all four subtypes of AP-FGD.