Moving Integrated Care for Pediatric Somatic Symptoms into Primary Care: An Innovative Approach

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Primary Care
• Integrated Behavioral Health
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Integrated behavioral healthcare is common for pediatric anxiety and depression.
• Somatic symptoms (chronic pain, fatigue, syncope) affect one in three youth but are under-addressed in primary care.
• Current management approaches often fail to address mild-to-moderate pediatric somatic symptoms effectively.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the literature on integrated care for pediatric somatic symptoms.
• To propose an adapted integrated care model for primary care settings.
• To improve access and management of somatic symptoms in youth.

Main Methods:

• Literature review on integrated care for pediatric somatic symptoms.
• Adaptation of the Pediatric Psychosocial Preventative Health model.
• Proposal of a co-management approach between primary care providers and embedded behavioral health providers.

Main Results:

• Youth with mild to moderate somatic symptoms can be co-managed in primary care.
• A collaborative model leverages existing trust in primary care.
• This approach can address symptoms often overlooked in current practices.

Conclusions:

• An adapted integrated care model can improve access to care for pediatric somatic symptoms.
• Co-management by primary care and behavioral health providers is feasible.
• This model has the potential to reduce symptom persistence and progression in youth.