Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
08:22
Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System ANS Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges
Published on: February 25, 2016
14.4K
Somatic complaints in anxious youth
Sarah A Crawley1, Nicole E Caporino, Boris Birmaher
1Department of Psychology, Temple University, Weiss Hall, 1701 North 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA.
Child Psychiatry and Human Development
|October 17, 2013
Summary
Physical symptoms in youth with anxiety disorders are linked to age, diagnosis, and anxiety severity. These somatic complaints, like headaches and sleep issues, improved with treatment but were not tied to specific therapies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Physical symptoms are common in youth with anxiety disorders.
- Understanding factors associated with these symptoms is crucial for effective treatment.
- Previous research has explored various interventions for childhood anxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic and clinical factors related to physical symptoms in anxious youth.
- To evaluate the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy (Coping Cat), sertraline, combination therapy, and placebo on physical symptoms.
- To analyze changes in physical symptom presentation and severity over a 12-week treatment period.
Main Methods:
- A multi-site randomized controlled trial involving 488 youth (ages 7-17) diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, or social phobia.
- Participants received 12 weeks of either Coping Cat, sertraline, combination therapy, or a pill placebo.
- Assessments included diagnostic status, symptom severity, and impairment at baseline and week 12.
Main Results:
- Physical symptom severity and frequency were associated with participant age, principal diagnosis, anxiety severity, functional impairment, and comorbid internalizing disorders.
- Common somatic complaints included headaches, stomachaches, cold symptoms, and sleep disturbances.
- Physical symptoms decreased significantly across all treatment groups, irrespective of the condition received.
Conclusions:
- Demographic and clinical factors play a role in the manifestation of physical symptoms in anxious youth.
- While physical symptoms improve with treatment, the specific therapeutic modality (CBT, medication, combination, or placebo) did not differentially impact their reduction.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between anxiety, somatic symptoms, and treatment response in pediatric populations.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Anxiety: Overview
1.3K
Anxiety is a common mental disorder featuring excessive worry, fear, and apprehension, significantly affecting daily life. People with anxiety disorders experience persistent and intense anxiety, interrupting their everyday functioning.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
Individuals with anxiety often experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including sweating, trembling, tachycardia, and disturbances in sleep patterns. These symptoms vary in intensity and frequency but are generally disruptive and distressing.
1.3K
01:30Generalized Anxiety Disorder
1.3K
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a chronic condition characterized by excessive and uncontrollable worry that persists for at least six months, significantly interfering with daily functioning. Unlike situational anxiety, which arises in response to specific stressors, GAD often occurs without a clear cause. Individuals may experience disproportionate worry about work, health, or relationships. For instance, a person might continuously fear poor health despite normal medical evaluations or...
1.3K
01:28Social Anxiety Disorder
887
Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of social situations where one might face humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or negative evaluation. This disorder leads individuals to avoid activities like casual conversations, public speaking, or seemingly simple tasks such as eating, signing documents, or swimming, in public settings. Its impact extends beyond discomfort, often significantly interfering with daily functioning and quality of life.
887
01:27Panic Disorder
1.3K
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent and sudden minutes-long episodes of intense fear, known as panic attacks. These attacks may feel like heart attacks and often happen without warning or a specific cause. They can include symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest pain, trembling, sweating, dizziness, and a sense of helplessness. During a panic attack, individuals may feel as though they are experiencing a heart attack or are in a...
1.3K
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
4.7K
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
4.7K
01:28Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
1.1K
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition characterized by recurrent obsessions, compulsions, or both, which consume significant time and interfere with daily functioning. Obsessions involve persistent, intrusive, and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that evoke anxiety. Common examples include irrational fears of contamination or harm. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce the anxiety caused by obsessions. For instance, individuals...
1.1K