Children can imagine away pain
by Kirsty on Nov.14, 2009, under Healthcare News
American researchers have found that children can be taught to use their imagination to tackle frequent bouts of abdominal pain. It is thought that the technique works particularly well due to their fertile imaginations. The research suggests that 1 in 5 children suffer with frquent abdominal pain with no identifiable cause. There were 30 children aged between 6 and 15 in the study half had 20 minute sessions of “guided imagery” this is where the patient is prompted to imagine things which will reduce their discomfort. The other half had the mainstream care.
It is thought that the treatment is very positive because it is inexpensive and is able to be self administered, which potentially opens the door for easily enhancing treatment outcomes for a lot of children sufering from frequent stomach aches.
This technique is an amazing breakthrough because this means that children can be treated by other means instead of drugs which is definately a positive. Also it means that more children can be treated without massive waiting lists which can be a definate plus for the NHS and the parents of the children who are suffering from abdominal pain and there is nothing they can do