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Paediatrician identification of psychological factors associated with general paediatric consultations
1University of Manchester, Booth Hall Children's Hospital, U.K.
Insights
Many children (47%) visiting paediatric clinics show psychological factors linked to physical symptoms like pain and soiling. Parents reported higher rates of psychiatric disorders, including depression and relationship issues, in these children.
Area of Science:
- Child Psychology
- Pediatrics
- Psychosomatic Medicine
Background:
- Pediatricians frequently encounter children with somatic symptoms.
- Psychological factors are often associated with these physical presentations in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and nature of psychological factors in children presenting with somatic symptoms in general pediatric clinics.
- To explore associated psychiatric disorders and family health issues in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Study involved children aged 7-12 years referred to general pediatric clinics.
- Data collection included pediatrician reports on psychological factors and somatic presentations.
- Research interviews with parents were conducted to assess psychiatric disorders and family health.
Main Results:
- Psychological factors were associated with somatic presentations in 47% of children.
- Common symptoms included abdominal/chest/joint pains and soiling.
- Increased rates of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depressive mood changes, relationship problems) and family health issues were observed in parents.
Conclusions:
- Pediatricians can effectively identify psychosomatic issues in children attending general pediatric clinics.
- The findings support the validity of pediatricians' assessments of psychological factors in children with somatic complaints.
Abstract:
In a study of children 7-12 yr of age referred to general paediatric clinics, paediatricians reported psychological factors associated to somatic presentations in 47% of the children. These cases presented with a variety of somatic symptoms, but abdominal/chest/joint pains and soiling were particularly common. From research interviews with the parents we found increased rates of psychiatric disorder (abnormalities of emotions, behaviour or relationships) amongst them. The most common psychiatric symptoms were depressive mood changes and relationship problems. We also identified an excess of certain personality features in the children and of family health problems in this group. Paediatricians commonly identify psychosomatic issues in children attending general paediatric clinics and independent evidence supports the validity of their assessments.