Group-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (AHEAD) for adolescents with multiple functional somatic syndromes: A...

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Psychological Interventions
• Chronic Illness Management

Background:

• Evidence for treating adolescents with multiple functional somatic syndromes (FSS) is limited.
• This study evaluated Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Health in Adolescents (AHEAD), a group-based intervention for co-occurring FSS in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the efficacy of AHEAD compared to enhanced usual care (EUC) in adolescents with multiple FSS.
• To assess the impact of AHEAD on physical health, symptom severity, and illness perception.

Main Methods:

• A randomized trial included 91 adolescents (15-19 years) with FSS of at least one year's duration.
• Participants were randomized to AHEAD (27 hours + follow-up) or EUC.
• Physical health (SF-36) was the primary outcome; secondary outcomes included symptom severity and illness perception. Analysis used linear mixed-effects models.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in physical health was found between AHEAD and EUC at 12 months.
• AHEAD patients showed faster improvements in physical health, symptom severity, and illness perception compared to EUC.
• Treatment satisfaction was high for AHEAD, while EUC patients received more external psychological treatment.

Conclusions:

• AHEAD did not demonstrate a significant advantage in physical health at 12 months compared to EUC.
• AHEAD facilitated a faster improvement trajectory for physical health and symptoms.
• The study highlights the need for organized, systematic treatment for severely affected adolescents with FSS.