It occurs because of altered sensitivity to nerve impulses in the gut and brain, and it is not associated with altered motility in the intestines. For people with CFAP, the pain can be so all-consuming that it becomes the main focus of their lives. Not only does it impact on quality of life, but it has a major economic impact as well. The US Householders Survey of Functional GI Disorders published in 1993 found that people with CFAP missed an average of 12 days of work annually due to illness compared to 4 missed days for people without gastrointestinal symptoms. To understand the basis for chronic functional abdominal pain it is helpful to understand how the body experiences pain.
Nerve impulses travel from the abdomen to the spinal cord, and then to various areas of the brain.
There are many different areas of the brain involved in the sensation of abdominal pain. One of these connected areas is concerned with the location and intensity of the pain, while another connected area is concerned with memories or emotions. Because of this interconnection, the perception of pain can be affected by emotions or life experiences. While symptoms of CFAP can appear without apparent cause, they can also occur after traumatic life events like the death of a loved one, divorce, or a history of sexual or physical abuse. During times of added stress, symptoms can worsen.