The role of psychological factors and central neurotransmitter systems in visceral and somatic pain in health and functional somatic disorders.

Functional Dyspensia (FD) is characterized by chronic/recurrent pain/discomfort in the gastroduodenal region that cannot be explained by structural or biochemical abnormalities. The pathophysiology of FD remains incompletely understood, but consists probably of a complex interaction between biological, psychological and social factors. More specifically, peripheral and/or central sensitization at different levels of the 'brain-gut axis' may play an important role; this mechanisms can be influenced by psychological processes. Our group showed earlier that FD patients are characterized by maladaptive pain modulatory responses at the brain level and that these abnormalities correlate with psychological processes (anxiety, history of secual/physical abuse). The exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the relationship between psychological processes and visceral pain remain, however, incompletely understood. The general aim of this project is: 1. further study of the mechanisms by which psychological processes influence gastric sensorimotor function and symptom generation in FD, using psychophysiological studies; 2. further study of brain mechanisms of gastric sensitivity in health & FD, with special interest in the influence of psychological processes on and the role of neurotransmittersystems in pain modulating brain responses, using functional brain imaging (PET radioligand studies, fMRI).

Keywords:Interoception, Functional dyspepsia, Functional brain imaging, Psychological processes, Visceral pain

Disciplines:Psychiatry and psychotherapy, Nursing, Other paramedical sciences, Clinical and counselling psychology, Other psychology and cognitive sciences, Neurosciences, Biological and physiological psychology, Cognitive science and intelligent systems, Developmental psychology and ageing, Gastro-enterology and hepatology