Functional somatic symptoms and associated impairment in 5-7-year-old children: the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000.
Research on somatisation or functional disorders, characterised by the subjective report of physical symptoms in the absence of clear physical pathology, in young children is limited. This study investigates the distribution, types and co-occurrence of parent-reported functional somatic symptoms (FSS) and their impairment in a population-based sample of Danish 5-7-year-old children. Data were obtained from a 5-7-year follow-up of the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000. The entire study population included 3,000 randomly sampled children from the cohort. Among these FSS measures were obtained for 1,327 children. The newly introduced parent interview, the soma assessment interview, was used to assess the child's FSS. Impairing symptoms were defined as FSS that caused substantial discomfort, impairment of everyday life, absence from day-care or school and/or help-seeking in the health care system. The 1-year prevalence of any FSS was 23.2% (N = 308) and higher in girls than boys (27.6 vs. 18.8%, P < 0.0001). Impairing FSS were found in 4.4% (N = 58). Pain complaints, i.e. limb pain, headache and abdominal pain, were the most frequently reported FSS. Among the 308 children with FSS, 66 (21.4%) presented with two or more of these functional pain complaints, while 15 (4.9%) had all three types. The findings indicate that FSS are common health complaints in 5-7-year-old children. A subgroup with impairing FSS with a likely need of clinical intervention was identified. This suggests that a somatisation pattern may start early in life and call for future studies to include associated impairment in the investigation of childhood FSS.
Rask
Charlotte Ulrikka
CU
Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Aarhus, Denmark. c.rask@dadlnet.dk
Olsen
Else Marie
EM
Elberling
Hanne
H
Christensen
Mogens Fjord
MF
Ornbøl
Eva
E
Fink
Per
P
Thomsen
Per Hove
PH
Skovgaard
Anne Mette
AM
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires