Evidence-based Care for Suspected Pediatric Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders in Emergent Settings
[Article]
Malas, Nasuh
Introduction: Somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRDs) are a group of diagnoses characterized by the presentation of one or more physical symptoms that are either inconsistent with physical disease based on a thorough medical evaluation or vastly disproportionate to findings on a thorough medical evaluation, and result in significant impairment. These symptoms are often significantly influenced by psychological factors including acute or chronic distress, as well as visceral hypersensitivity and habituation of maladaptive responses to somatic sensations. These conditions are common in pediatric medicine, accounting for up to 50% of primary care visits for abdominal pain, headache, and fatigue. There is a lack of a coordinated approach to SSRD care, often resulting in excessive and unnecessary healthcare utilization, miscommunications, missed opportunities to intervene, and considerable frustration from patients, families and providers.
2019
Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health