WASHINGTON - Kids with stomach aches, who used audio recordings of guided imagery at home along with regular treatment, were three times more likely to ease their problem, compared to kids who were only undergoing treatment, a new study says.

Those gains were maintained six months after treatment ended, say study researchers from the University of North Carolina (UNC), Chapel Hill and Duke University Medical Centre (DUMC).

Guided imagery has been an effective stress management tool used by thousands of people to reduce tension, manage stress, and so on.

“What is especially exciting about our study is that children can clearly reduce their abdominal pain a lot on their own with guidance from audio recordings, and they get much better results that way than from medical care alone,” said Miranda van Tilburg, a professor at UNC, who led the study.

“Such self-administered treatment is, of course, very inexpensive and can be used in addition to other treatments, which potentially opens the door for easily enhancing treatment outcomes for a lot of children suffering from frequent stomach aches,” Tilburg added.

The study focussed on functional abdominal ache, defined as persistent ache with no identifiable underlying disease that interferes with activities.

It is very common, affecting up to 20 percent of children. Prior studies have found that behavioural therapy and guided imagery are effective, when combined with regular medical care, to reduce pain and improve quality of life.

The study is slated for publication in the November issue of Paediatrics.