title: Enhanced auditory brainstem response and parental bonding style in children with gastrointestinal symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The electrophysiological properties of the brain and influence of parental bonding in childhood irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are unclear. We hypothesized that children with chronic gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms like IBS may show exaggerated brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) responses and receive more inadequate parental bonding.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children aged seven and their mothers (141 pairs) participated. BAEP was measured by summation of 1,000 waves of the electroencephalogram triggered by 75 dB click sounds. The mothers completed their Children's Somatization Inventory (CSI) and Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). CSI results revealed 66 (42%) children without GI symptoms (controls) and 75 (58%) children with one or more GI symptoms (GI group). The III wave in the GI group (median 4.10 interquartile range [3.95-4.24] ms right, 4.04 [3.90-4.18] ms left) had a significantly shorter peak latency than controls (4.18 [4.06-4.34] ms right, p = 0.032, 4.13 [4.02-4.24] ms left, p = 0.018). The female GI group showed a significantly shorter peak latency of the III wave (4.00 [3.90-4.18] ms) than controls (4.18 [3.97-4.31] ms, p = 0.034) in the right side. BAEP in the male GI group did not significantly differ from that in controls. GI scores showed a significant correlation with the peak latency of the III wave in the left side (rho = -0.192, p = 0.025). The maternal care PBI scores in the GI group (29 [26]-[33]) were significantly lower than controls (31 [28.5-33], p = 0.010), while the maternal over-protection PBI scores were significantly higher in the GI group (16 [12]-[17]) than controls (13 [10.5-16], p = 0.024). Multiple regression analysis in females also supported these findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that children with chronic GI symptoms have exaggerated brainstem responses to environmental stimuli and inadequate parental behaviors aggravate these symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: Shizuka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seino
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Namiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Konosuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shoji
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Kanoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kozawa
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakai
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Motoyori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukudo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004569:Electroencephalography; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013016:Sound; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires