Psychogenic pain disorder in children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Psychology
• Child Psychiatry
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Psychogenic pain in children, recognized for decades, involves pain without organic cause.
• Increasing evidence links emotional factors to unexplained pain complaints in pediatric populations.
• Effective management necessitates an integrated medical and psychological team approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence and characteristics of psychogenic pain disorder in children at a general hospital.
• To investigate the common symptoms and associated stressors in pediatric psychogenic pain.
• To evaluate the efficacy of psychotherapeutic interventions for this condition.

Main Methods:

• A 2-year prospective study identified 46 children meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders criteria for psychogenic pain disorder.
• Comprehensive physical examinations and investigations ruled out organic pathology.
• Psychotherapeutic management was administered to all affected children and their families.

Main Results:

• The majority of cases (73.9%) presented with abdominal pain; limb and chest pain were also observed.
• Parental marital problems were the most frequent stressor, reported by 67.4% of children.
• Psychotherapy led to symptom remission in 76.1% of the children.

Conclusions:

• Psychogenic pain is a significant pediatric concern, often presenting with somatic complaints like abdominal pain.
• Psychosocial stressors, particularly parental conflict, play a crucial role in the development of pediatric psychogenic pain.
• Psychotherapeutic interventions demonstrate high efficacy in achieving remission for children with psychogenic pain disorder.