title: Practitioner review: Assessment and management of somatisation in childhood and adolescence: a practical perspective.
abstract: The assessment and treatment of somatisation in childhood require explicit recognition that many families frequently hold strong belief in the presence of physical disorders. Engaging the family, recognising and focusing on their beliefs and concerns, and paediatric/psychiatric liaison are usually required. Our knowledge on the management of children with somatisation is largely based on clinical reports but a number of open trials and methodologically increasingly stronger studies show that somatisation can respond to family treatments involving cognitive-behavioural techniques as well as to sensitive, psychologically sound advice by paediatricians. Antidepressants should be considered when there are comorbid mood disorders.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, St Mary's Campus, Academic Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, London, UK.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Garralda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005196:Family Therapy; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents