Clinical profile of pediatric somatoform disorders.
Indian Pediatr
;
2008 Feb; 45(2): 111-5
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-8994
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To study the prevalence, pattern, clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of somatoform disorders in children.METHODS:
From Aug 2004 to July 2005, children up to 18 years with unexplained physical symptoms were evaluated prospectively using DSM-IV criteria. Detailed evaluation followed for those meeting criteria.RESULTS:
The prevalence of Somatoform disorders was 0.59% and 0.78% among out-door and in-door patients respectively. Among 124 children (40 boys and 84 girls) meeting criteria, conversion disorder was the commonest (57.3%), followed by undifferentiated somatoform disorder (25.2%). Girls were significantly more represented among conversion disorder patients compared to other groups of somatoform disorders (78.9 vs. 52.8 %, P=0.002). In conversion disorder, 2/3rd patients presented within 3 months, whereas in other somatoform disorders, 2/3rd patients presented within 3 months after symptoms. Fainting attacks (52.1%) and ataxia (43.7%) in conversion disorder and pain abdomen (52.8%) and headache (52.8%) in other somatoform disorders, were the commonest symptoms. Stressors were identified in 73.4% and acute precipitating stressors were present in 14.4% children. Boys had significantly higher rates of poor inter-personal relations and communication problems within the family (72.5% vs. 41.7%, P=0.001), while girls had significantly higher rates of conflicts with the parents and other family members (21.4% vs. 5%, P=0.02).CONCLUSION:
Somatoform disorders, particularly conversion disorder is commoner in girls. Important stressors are poor inter-personal relations and communication problems within the family in boys, and conflicts with family members among girls.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Somatoform Disorders
/
Syncope
/
Severity of Illness Index
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Abdominal Pain
/
Child
/
Sex Factors
/
Health Status
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
Indian Pediatr
Year:
2008
Type:
Article
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