Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS): Chronic Pain Without a Clear Cause

February 11, 2026

Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS): Chronic Pain Without a Clear Cause

Verified By
KIMS-SUNSHINE
Specialist,
11 February, 2026

Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS): Chronic Pain Without a Clear Cause

The digestive system has a major role to play- with its multitude of organs and pathways that ensure there is connection between them all wherever necessary. If you suffer from chronic pain that affects your daily routine, you should get in touch with an experienced gastroenterologist at the best hospital in Hyderabad. At times, when you have chronic abdominal pain without reason and when it is confirmed that there is no structural anomaly causing your symptoms, your doctor may diagnose you with centrally mediated abdominal pain syndrome (CAPS), formerly called functional abdominal pain syndrome (FAPS).

Functional Abdominal Pain Causes

The understanding of this condition has changed from there being no structural issues in the gut to the more relevant fact that even when everything is fine, the brain-gut axis interaction is abnormal. Your diet or environment may be triggering your symptoms, but this has more to do with the CNS processing signals in the wrong way. The exact reason for why this happens is not known and research is still being conducted to understand the condition better. Being overly stressed about some event in life can worsen your symptoms though. Any chronic inflammation or severe infection can also act as a trigger in many cases.

Visceral Hypersensitivity Symptoms With FAPS

FAPS or CAPS is a functional GI disorder – and all x-rays and scans show that everything is structurally normal. There is no issue with how food moves in the digestive system either (motility is normal) but the nerves governing all these processes have altered sensitivity. This is called visceral hypersensitivity and the symptoms observed are as follows

You have chronic abdominal pain that can be moderate or severe and it is not related to your diet, menstrual cycle or any other normal occurrence either.
You will feel dizzy or severely nauseated
If pain is present for longer than 6 months and you ave no other issues like weight loss or diarrhoea or vomiting, then it may be FAPS.

So, basically, your brain begins to feel more pain than usual as the receptors interpret pain signals differently from before. This is why it is called a gut-brain interaction disorder.

FAPS Diagnosis Criteria

The Rome IV Criteria are used to diagnose this condition and they say that you should have chronic pain that is moderate or severe for longer than 3 months at a time, it has to affect your quality of life and that no other underlying cause can be why you have symptoms (which means imaging and blood and other tests all come back normal).

For you to get such a diagnosis, you need to have all these symptoms for at least 3 months continuously and the symptoms need to begin at least 6 months before.

Treatment for FAPS

Gastroenterologist treatment for FAPS includes the use of antidepressants and recommending some form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where you teach your brain new ways to cope with the pain and hence lessen its intensity in the future. Painkillers don’t really help much at all – and since this condition is caused due to a change in pain perception, psychological therapies like hypnosis and stress management activities like meditation or relaxation techniques may work the best in treating them in the long term.

Studies have shown that this condition is affecting more adults in India, when compared to a few years ago and that more women are affected, when compared to men.

Conclusion

Functional abdominal pain syndrome literally means the structure of the abdominal organs is all normal, but the functioning is abnormal. The brain is a remarkable organ- it can feel pain even before an event occurs and it can heighten the severity of symptoms felt. It can also choose to downplay certain painful symptoms. So, CBT and related therapy can help you understand the situations that can trigger such flare ups and help you cope with stress and emotions better. So, talk to an experienced gastroenterologist and opt for therapy so you feel better. Call us for a consultation today!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS)?

Functional Abdominal Pain Syndrome (FAPS) is a chronic pain disorder in which ongoing abdominal pain occurs without structural disease or inflammation. It is linked to altered communication between the gut and the brain rather than damage within the digestive tract. The pain can be constant or frequent and may not relate to eating or bowel movements.

What causes chronic abdominal pain without visible disease?

Chronic abdominal pain without detectable disease is often due to disorders of gut–brain interaction. Changes in how the nervous system processes pain signals can make normal digestive activity feel painful. Stress, anxiety, past illness or trauma may influence symptoms. Unlike conditions such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, there is no visible inflammation or tissue injury.

How is FAPS diagnosed?

FAPS is diagnosed based on symptoms, medical history and examination. Tests such as blood work, imaging or endoscopy are often carried out to exclude other conditions. When results are normal and pain has been present for several months without another explanation, a diagnosis of FAPS may be made.

Are painkillers effective for FAPS?

Standard painkillers, including opioids, are often ineffective and may worsen symptoms over time. Treatment focuses on pain-modulating medicines such as low-dose antidepressants, alongside psychological therapies and stress management to reduce pain signalling.

When should a gastroenterologist be consulted?

A gastroenterologist should be consulted if pain is persistent, severe, or associated with weight loss, bleeding, anaemia, fever or vomiting. Specialist review is also advised if symptoms interfere with daily life or if initial treatments have not helped.