The biopsychosocial model in paediatric clinical practice-An interdisciplinary approach to somatic symptom disorders

The paper aims to show how the biopsychosocial (BPS) model can be applied as a clinical method and guide the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with somatic symptom disorders (SSD).

Based on relevant literature and our clinical work with children and adolescents with SSD, we have developed a method to ensure a structured, interdisciplinary examination of biological, psychological and social factors, operationalising the BPS model into a clinical method.

The BPS model renders assessment and treatment of complex conditions as a basis for evaluating phenomena not confined by diagnostic tools, but still includes all information from these tools. It requires an interdisciplinary approach, giving individual patient and caregivers a central position. A thorough medical examination is required as a starting point for assessments. Good results rest upon a shared understanding between patient, caregivers and professionals.

'Biopsychosocial' is often claimed as a basis for clinical work with complex cases, medical, functional and psychiatric, but scarcely with a corresponding BPS method or practice. The BPS method should guide further development of holistic, interdisciplinary health care on all levels, to assess and help children and adolescents with SSD.