Abdominal pain and the emotions.

Sites in the gut that are related to pain are reviewed with respect to the special psychophysiological factors that operate locally. Topics considered are the irritable bowel, appendicitis and appendicectomy, duodenal ulceration and biliary disorders. Psychological states that promote the complaint or experience of abdominal pain are discussed. Possible psychological mechanisms are considered for abdominal pain with the reservation that we still do not know even the main physical mechanisms of pain related to gut disturbance.