What are somatic symptoms in children?

There are several types of somatic symptom and related disorders. Symptoms may resemble those of a neurologic disorder (such as paralysis or loss of vision) or be vague (such as headache and nausea), or children may be obsessed with an imagined defect or be convinced that they have a serious disease.

What are functional somatic symptoms in children?

About 10–25% of children and adolescents suffer from Functional Somatic Symptoms (FSS), i.e. bodily complaints such as abdominal pain or headaches that cannot be sufficiently explained by an underlying physical condition (Berntsson & Köhler, 2001; Rask et al., 2009).

What is somatic pain in children?

Somatic symptom disorder is different from hypochondria and illness anxiety disorder. Somatic symptom disorder is emotional distress that causes a child to feel physical symptoms like pain. Medical testing can't confirm or explain these symptoms in your child but they aren't fake symptoms.

What are the 6 somatic symptom disorders?

They include somatization disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, hypochondriasis, conversion disorder, pain disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, and somatoform disorder not otherwise specified. These disorders often cause significant emotional distress for patients and are a challenge to family physicians.

What are the somatic symptoms of childhood trauma?

Often the scars of past trauma extend beyond emotional pain and physical injury—they can manifest in distinct somatic symptoms as well. Patients may experience a range of general symptoms like fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, joint or muscle pain, headaches, and palpitations, which may or may not be temporary.

What are somatic symptoms?

What are the four characteristics of a somatic symptom disorder?

According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), somatic symptom disorder (SSD) involves one or more physical symptoms accompanied by an excessive amount of time, energy, emotion, and/or behavior related to the symptom that results in significant distress and/or ...

What are somatic symptoms of anxiety in children?

These complaints include a range of physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, muscle tension/pain, difficulty breathing, shaking, pounding or racing heart, sweating, blushing, and fatigue.

What is an example of a somatic symptom disorder?

Somatic symptom disorder is diagnosed when a person has a significant focus on physical symptoms, such as pain, weakness or shortness of breath, to a level that results in major distress and/or problems functioning. The individual has excessive thoughts, feelings and behaviors relating to the physical symptoms.

What is the best treatment for somatic symptom disorder?

Cognitive behavior therapy and mindfulness-based therapy are effective for the treatment of somatic symptom disorder. Amitriptyline, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and St. John's wort are effective pharmacologic treatments for somatic symptom disorder.

What is the test for somatic symptom disorder?

The PHQ-15, WI-7, and SAIB are useful screening instruments for detecting somatic symptom disorder as described in the DSM-5. The SSS-8 is an abbreviated PHQ-15 that has been demonstrated to be a reliable and valid self-report measure for somatic symptom burden.

What are the somatic symptoms of ADHD?

Research shows that, compared to those without ADHD, those with ADHD are more likely to suffer migraines, digestive issues, muscle pain, and insomnia. Since most ADHD brains do not linger on unpleasant issues, somatic discomforts often remain unaddressed.

What is somatic therapy for children?

Somatic Experiencing is a very gentle trauma based treatment. It is a bottom-up approach which means that the therapy is concentrating on movements and sensations in the body and gradually letting the dysregulation flow out of the body releasing the feelings of trauma.

What are the symptoms of somatic anxiety?

Symptoms typically associated with somatization of anxiety and other psychiatric disorders include abdominal pain, dyspepsia, chest pain, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia, and headache.

What causes somatic symptoms?

Do somatic symptoms go away?

Although there is no known cure for somatoform disorders, they can be managed. Treatment focuses on helping the person who has the disorder to live as much of a normal life as possible. Even with treatment, they may still have some pain or other symptoms.

Is somatic disorder serious?

If you have somatic symptom disorder, you may experience significant emotional and physical distress. Treatment can help ease symptoms, help you cope and improve your quality of life.

What medication is used for somatic anxiety?

GAD is a common anxiety disorder, and it often presents with somatic symptoms. SSRIs that are FDA-approved for anxiety include sertraline (Zoloft) and immediate- and extended-release paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR).

How long does somatic symptom disorder last?

A person with somatic symptom disorder has one or more "somatic" (physical) symptoms over a long period of time (usually half a year or more). Symptoms may or may not be explained fully by another medical diagnosis. The person may be reacting to normal bodily sensations or a minor illness.

How do you fix somatic anxiety?

What type of symptoms are children with anxiety more likely to exhibit?

Anxiety may present as fear or worry, but can also make children irritable and angry. Anxiety symptoms can also include trouble sleeping, as well as physical symptoms like fatigue, headaches, or stomachaches. Some anxious children keep their worries to themselves and, thus, the symptoms can be missed.

Which personality trait is strongly associated with somatic symptom disorders?

The significant associations between neuroticism and somatic complaints and somatic comorbidity found in TCSs are in line with large population studies confirming the link between common somatic symptoms and neuroticism [10].

What is the most common somatoform disorder?

Hypochondriasis and body dysmorphic disorder are perhaps more common. It is not clear why some people develop somatoform disorders.

What are examples of somatic anxiety?

What causes somatic anxiety?

It's not clear why some people develop this condition. Certain factors may be involved: Having a negative outlook. Being more physically and emotionally sensitive to pain and other sensations.

What is the difference between cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety?

Somatic anxiety, also known as somatization, is the physical manifestation of anxiety. It is commonly contrasted with cognitive anxiety, which is the mental manifestation of anxiety, or the specific thought processes that occur during anxiety, such as concern or worry.