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Clinical Profile of Somatoform Disorders in Children

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Abstract

Objective

To study the clinical profile, socio-demographic features, psychosocial stressors and outcome of somatoform disorders in children

Methods

Children up to the age of 18 year presenting with unexplained physical symptoms over a period of 6 months were evaluated. A detailed history and physical examination was carried out. Appropriate investigations were undertaken to exclude organic causes. Diagnosis was made according to DSM-IV-TR criteria.

Results

Forty-five children were diagnosed with somatoform disorders during the study period. The prevalence was 0.5% and 0.9% among outdoor and indoor patients, respectively. Conversion disorder (48.9%) was the commonest followed by other somatoform disorders (26.7%). Pseudoseizures and fainting attacks in conversion disorder and pain abdomen and general body pain in somatoform disorder were the commonest symptoms. Male to female ratio was 2.2:1. Urban children (25) were represented more than rural children (20). Stress factors were identified in 71.1% patients, which included fear of school or examinations. Thirty-three patients (73.3%) remained asymptomatic after counseling whereas, 8 patients (17.6%) had relapse requiring further counseling. Four patients (8.8%) showed no improvement and needed psychiatric evaluation.

Conclusions

Early referral to mental health professional is required to avoid unnecessary investigations and delay in diagnosis of somatoform disorders in children.

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Contributions

VG planned and designed the study. AS collected the data. SU helped in manuscript writing. BDB will act as guarantor for the paper.

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None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India

    Vineeta Gupta, Aparna Singh, Shashi Upadhyay & Baldev Bhatia

Authors
  1. Vineeta Gupta
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  2. Aparna Singh
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  3. Shashi Upadhyay
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  4. Baldev Bhatia
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vineeta Gupta.

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Gupta, V., Singh, A., Upadhyay, S. et al. Clinical Profile of Somatoform Disorders in Children. Indian J Pediatr 78, 283–286 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0282-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-010-0282-z

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