EC Psychology and Psychiatry

Introduction: Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD) is the diagnosis provided in the DSM-5, which encapsulates several diagnoses that are primarily characterized by somatic symptoms caused by significant psychological distress. The presence of SSD in children/adolescents have been increasingly recognized over the years. This review is aimed at presenting the role of psychological therapy and how effective it is in the treatment of children with somatic symptoms and related disorders (SSD).

Method: Articles were obtained from a search on PubMed and PsycInfo and were assessed in July 2023. Articles were reviewed based on the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Thirteen articles were found addressing the role of psychotherapy in treatment of children with SSD.

Results: Results showed that the integration of psychotherapy was the key intervention used. Along with the involvement of family which was explicitly mentioned in 7 out of the 13 reviewed studies. A multidisciplinary approach was discussed in six out of the 13 articles. Along that, emphasis was placed on an early accurate diagnosis which results in a shorter disease duration pre-intervention.

Conclusion: Findings show that there is a strong effect of psychological therapy, in different forms, in treatment of SSD. Which proves the importance of including therapy in a multidisciplinary approach in treatment of cases with SSD. The limitations in regards to the subject at hand, calls for more involvement of a multidisciplinary approach integrated with psychotherapy for children with SSD.

Keywords: Children; Conversion Disorder; Psychotherapy; Somatic Symptom Disorders

1. Bouras Georgios., et al. “Conversion disorder in a preschool age girl”. Journal of Health Psychology11 (2016): 2668-2672.
2. D'Souza RS and Hooten WM. Somatic syndrome disorders. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing (2022).
3. Laria Carlos., et al. “Conversion visual loss: a differential diagnosis in infant amblyopia”. European Journal of Ophthalmology6 (2009): 1065-1068.
4. Lenart-Domka Ewa and Marzena Pelc-Dymon. "Multi-profile procedures for motor conversion disorders in children: a case report”. Psychiatria Polska4 (2018): 685-695.
5. Malhi Prahbhjot., et al. “Outcome of conversion symptoms in children”. Indian Journal of Pediatrics 88 (2021): 367-369.
6. McFarlane Fiona A., et al. “Cognitive-behavioural treatment of functional neurological symptoms (conversion disorder) in children and adolescents: a case series”. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology2 (2019): 317-328.
7. Mukherjee Bipasha and Suraj Nayak. "Nonorganic visual loss in a child”. Saudi Journal of Ophthalmology3 (2020): 220.
8. Ouss L and E Tordjman. "Conversive disorders among children and adolescents: towards new “complementarist” paradigms?”. Neurophysiologie Clinique/Clinical Neurophysiology4 (2014): 411-416.
9. Özsungur Berna., et al. “Treatment of a severe conversion disorder in a 10-year-old boy: a case study and overview”. The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics4 (2012): 413.
10. Page Matthew J., et al. “The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews”. International Journal of Surgery 88 (2021): 105906.
11. Peebles Rebecka., et al. “Factitious disorder and malingering in adolescent girls: Case series and literature review”. Clinical Pediatrics3 (2005): 237-243.
12. Pop-Jordanova Nada and Tatjana Zorcec. "Somatoform Disorders–A Pediatric Experience”. Prilozi2-3 (2016): 55-62.
13. Sakurai Yoshihiko., et al. “Persistent Idiopathic Facial Pain Associated with Somatoform Disorder in an 11-Year-Old Boy”. Case Reports in Psychiatry 2019 (2019).
14. Stager Lindsay., et al. “Sense of control, selective attention, cognitive inhibition, and psychosocial outcomes after Retraining and Control Therapy (ReACT) in pediatric functional seizures”. Epilepsy and Behavior 142 (2023): 109143.
15. Schulte Ilva Elena and Franz Petermann. "Somatoform disorders: 30 years of debate about criteria!: What about children and adolescents?”. Journal of Psychosomatic Research3 (2011): 218-228.
16. Schwingenschuh Petra., et al. “Psychogenic movement disorders in children: a report of 15 cases and a review of the literature”. Movement Disorders13 (2008): 1882-1888.
17. Turgay Atilla. "Treatment outcome for children and adolescents with conversion disorder”. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry7 (1990): 585-589.