The purpose of this study was to analyze the family dynamics of children with recurrent abdominal pain without organic cause. It was investigated whether common factors in psychosomatic families such as parental conflicts, relationship enmeshments, overprotectiveness, rigidity, and/or lack of conflict resolution were related with child symptoms. The design was a multiple case study. Interviews and the construction of a genogram were conducted with mothers of four children. It was observed an association between common factors in psychosomatic families and the child's recurrent abdominal pain. Disturbed bonds, stressful events prior to the symptoms, and the occurrence of real or symbolic losses were noticed. The families seem to focus on the mother while the fathers, even when present, are virtual.
psychosomatic family; child; recurrent abdominal pain
