Evolution of Parent-Targeted Interventions for Pain-Predominant Disorders of Gut-Brain Interactions: Research and Clinical Practice Considerations.

Objective: Abdominal pain-related Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBIs) in children are best understood from a biopsychosocial model, including particular attention to the child's environment. Interventions have begun to increasingly target parents as important agents of change in this population. The purpose of this manuscript is to summarize the evolution of parent-targeted interventions for pediatric pain-related DGBIs and provide recommendations for application of the model to clinical practice.

Formative Evaluation of a Comprehensive Self-Management Intervention for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Comorbid Anxiety, and Depression: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a disorder of the gut-brain interaction that is associated with abdominal pain, altered bowel patterns, and reduced quality of life. Up to 50% of patients with IBS also report anxiety or depressive symptoms. Although effective self-management interventions exist for individuals with IBS, few have been effectively implemented, and most do not consider the unique needs of patients with comorbid IBS and anxiety or depression.

Factors Associated With Adherence to a Low Fermentable Carbohydrate Diet in Children With Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders.

Background: The low-fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet (LFD) has been associated with reduced symptomology in pediatric functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The LFD is a complex dietary intervention that may be difficult to follow; thus, there is great interest in determining factors that contribute to adherence.

Objective: To examine whether baseline abdominal pain, emotional/behavioral problems, or quality of life predict adherence to the LFD in children with FGIDs.

A Comprehensive Self-Management Intervention for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (CSM-IBD): Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Despite pharmacological treatment, individuals with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) experience a variety of symptoms, including abdominal pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Few nonmedical self-management interventions are available for people with IBD. A validated comprehensive self-management (CSM) intervention is effective for patients with irritable bowel syndrome who can have symptoms similar to those of individuals with IBD.

Symptom management needs of patients with irritable bowel syndrome and concurrent anxiety and/or depression: A qualitative study.

Aims: To understand the experiences and needs of symptom management among individuals with irritable bowel syndrome and concurrent symptoms of anxiety and/or depression.

Design: This study used a qualitative descriptive research design.

Methods: Individuals with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and concurrent symptoms of anxiety and/or depression participated were recruited through an online ResearchMatch and a listserv.

Children with functional abdominal pain disorders successfully decrease FODMAP food intake on a low FODMAP diet with modest improvements in nutritional intake and diet quality.

Background: We sought to determine how a low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol (FODMAP) diet (LFD) affected high FODMAP food intake, nutrient intake, and diet quality in children with functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD).

Methods: Children (ages 7-13 years) with Rome IV FAPD began a dietitian-guided LFD. Three-day food records were captured at baseline and 2-3 weeks into the LFD.

Association of childhood abuse with behavioral weight-loss outcomes: Examining the mediating effect of binge eating severity.

Objective: The study aims were to (1) document the relationship between a history of childhood abuse and weight change during behavioral obesity treatment and (2) estimate the indirect effect of childhood abuse on weight change through binge eating severity.

Methods: Participants (n = 431) were enrolled in a behavioral weight-loss intervention. Childhood physical and emotional abuse history and current binge eating severity were self-reported.

Evaluation of a downstream process for the recovery and concentration of a Cell-Culture-Derived rVSV-Spike COVID-19 vaccine candidate.

rVSV-Spike (rVSV-S) is a recombinant viral vaccine candidate under development to control the COVID-19 pandemic and is currently in phase II clinical trials. rVSV-S induces neutralizing antibodies and protects against SARS-CoV-2 infection in animal models. Bringing rVSV-S to clinical trials required the development of a scalable downstream process for the production of rVSV-S that can meet regulatory guidelines.

Mediation of outcomes for cognitive behavioral therapy targeted to parents of children with Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders.

Objective: There is a large body of evidence for the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders (FAPD) in children. In most CBT interventions for FAPD, parents participate together with their children. However, only one study to date has examined targeting parents alone for treatment.

BestFIT Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial Results: A SMART Approach to Developing Individualized Weight Loss Treatment Sequences.

Background: State-of-the-art behavioral weight loss treatment (SBT) can lead to clinically meaningful weight loss, but only 30-60% achieve this goal. Developing adaptive interventions that change based on individual progress could increase the number of people who benefit.

Purpose: Conduct a Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial (SMART) to determine the optimal time to identify SBT suboptimal responders and whether it is better to switch to portion-controlled meals (PCM) or acceptance-based treatment (ABT).

Parental Response to Only Children: Breaking the Stereotypes.

While much has been written about the relationship between only child status and parents' behavior toward children, and consequent personality and intelligence, little is known about the relationship between only child status, parental response to illness, and subsequent child illness behavior. In this study, 227 mothers of 342 children completed measures designed to assess: (a) their children's school attendance, (b) their own psychological status, and (c) their own responses to their children's expressions of stomach pain. Parents of only children were more likely to minimize their children's gastrointestinal symptoms than were parents of children with at least one sibling.

Passive Coping Associations With Self-Esteem and Health-Related Quality of Life in Youth With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may experience chronic stress related to disease symptoms and treatment, with negative consequences to their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Lower HRQOL among pediatric patients with IBD has been associated with worse disease-related symptoms and psychological functioning, while higher HRQOL has been associated with more adaptive coping with disease symptoms and treatment. In addition, patients' self-esteem may impact the selection and use of coping strategies through global cognitions about their abilities and perceived competence.

Impact of COVID-19 on Individuals With Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Comorbid Anxiety and/or Depression.

Goals: The goal of this study was to describe the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on ability to engage in activities and the influence on psychological distress and gastrointestinal symptoms among individuals with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and comorbid anxiety and/or depression.

Background: Individuals with IBS and comorbid anxiety and/or depression report increased symptoms and decreased quality of life compared with individuals with IBS alone. The current COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to further influence symptoms among individuals with IBS and comorbid anxiety and/or depression.

A pilot feasibility study of an unguided, internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program for irritable bowel syndrome.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is linked with lower health-related quality of life. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) designed for IBS management can improve outcomes but further research of more accessible implementations of this treatment approach for IBS is needed. This study assessed the feasibility of a web-delivered CBT program among adults with IBS to apply to a future clinical trial.

Discrepancies Between Clinician and Participant Intervention Adherence Ratings Predict Percent Weight Change During a Six-Month Behavioral Weight Loss Intervention.

Background: Individuals receiving behavioral weight loss treatment frequently fail to adhere to prescribed dietary and self-monitoring instructions, resulting in weight loss clinicians often needing to assess and intervene in these important weight control behaviors. A significant obstacle to improving adherence is that clinicians and clients sometimes disagree on the degree to which clients are actually adherent. However, prior research has not examined how clinicians and clients differ in their perceptions of client adherence to weight control behaviors, nor the implications for treatment outcomes.

Sleep disturbances in children with functional gastrointestinal disorders: demographic and clinical characteristics.

Study Objectives: Research indicates a deleterious effect of sleep disturbances on pain and illness-related functioning across pediatric populations. Sleep problems in youth with functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are understudied, despite studies in adult FGIDs indicating sleep disruptions increase pain and symptom severity. This study sought to better characterize sleep problems in school-age children with FGIDs and to assess relationships with demographic characteristics and gastrointestinal symptoms.

Understanding the Psychosocial and Parenting Needs of Mothers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Young Children.

Women of childbearing age experience the highest prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), yet little is known about their psychosocial and parenting needs, which may influence their children's experience of future gastrointestinal or pain-related conditions. The aims of this study were to conduct qualitative interviews to understand the psychosocial and parenting needs of mothers with IBS who have young school-age children, and to assess mothers' potential interest in and acceptability of a preventive parenting intervention program. Ten mothers with IBS who have young (age 5-10), healthy children were interviewed.

Systematic Review: Psychosocial Correlates of Pain in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Pain is a common symptom in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is associated with poor health outcomes, yet additional knowledge about the psychosocial correlates of pain is needed to optimize clinical care. The purpose of this study is to systematically review the psychosocial factors associated with pain and pain impact in youth diagnosed with IBD within a developmentally informed framework.

Methods: Manual and electronic searches yielded 2641 references.

The Healthy Homes/Healthy Kids 5-10 Obesity Prevention Trial: 12 and 24-month outcomes.

Background: Pediatric primary care is an important setting for addressing obesity prevention.

Objective: The Healthy Homes/Healthy Kids 5-10 randomized controlled trial evaluated the efficacy of an obesity prevention intervention integrating pediatric primary care provider counseling and parent-targeted phone coaching.

Methods: Children aged 5 to 10 years with a BMI between the 70th and 95th percentile and their parents were recruited from pediatric primary care clinics.

Understanding Outcomes in Behavior Change Interventions to Prevent Pediatric Obesity: The Role of Dose and Behavior Change Techniques.

Background: Behavioral interventions to prevent pediatric obesity have shown inconsistent results across the field. Studying what happens within the "black box" of these interventions and how differences in implementation lead to different outcomes will help researchers develop more effective interventions.

Aim: To compare the implementation of three features of a phone-based intervention for parents (time spent discussing weight-related behaviors, behavior change techniques used in sessions, and intervention activities implemented by parents between sessions) with study outcomes.

Psychological Distress and Quality of Life in Pediatric Crohn Disease: Impact of Pain and Disease State.

Objectives: For patients with Crohn disease (CD), symptom reporting may not coincide with disease state; patients in remission may continue to report symptoms and pain, whereas other patients may be symptom-free despite a flare. This phenomenon has been documented in adults but only recently assessed in pediatric patients. The present study assessed the role of pain reporting and disease state in pediatric patients with CD in understanding psychological distress and quality of life.