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Functional somatic symptoms and associated impairment in 5–7-year-old children: the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000

  • PEDIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY
  • Published:
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Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

CC 5–7:

The Copenhagen Child Cohort 5–7-year follow-up

CCC 2000:

The Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000

CIs:

Confidence intervals

CSI:

Children’s somatization inventory

DAWBA:

Development and well-being assessment

FSS:

Functional somatic symptoms

ORs:

Odds ratios

RAP:

Recurrent abdominal pain

SAI:

Soma assessment interview

SDQ:

Strengths and difficulties questionnaire

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Acknowledgments

The study was supported by The Pharmaceutical Fund; Beatrice Surovel Haskell Fund for Child Mental Health Research of Copenhagen; Mrs C. Hermansens Memorial Fund; Lily Bethine Lunds Fund; The Research Initiative of Aarhus University Hospital; Clinical Institute, Aarhus University; The Research Fund of 2004, Medical Association in Aarhus; The Pool for Psychiatric Research, Aarhus County; Dagmar Marshalls Fund; King Christian X Fund; The Fund of Research in Mental Disorders; Rosalie Petersens Fund; The Research Fund of the Danish Medical Association; The Fund of Research in Public Health, Aarhus County and The Augustinus Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Aarhus, Denmark

    Charlotte Ulrikka Rask & Per Hove Thomsen

  2. Research Clinic for Functional Disorders and Psychosomatics, Aarhus University Hospital, Noerregade 44, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Charlotte Ulrikka Rask, Eva Ørnbøl & Per Fink

  3. Regional Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Glostrup, Copenhagen University Hospital, Region Hovedstaden, Denmark

    Else Marie Olsen, Hanne Elberling & Anne Mette Skovgaard

  4. Department of Paediatrics, Herning Region Hospital, Herning, Denmark

    Mogens Fjord Christensen

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  1. Charlotte Ulrikka Rask
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Correspondence to Charlotte Ulrikka Rask.

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Rask, C.U., Olsen, E.M., Elberling, H. et al. Functional somatic symptoms and associated impairment in 5–7-year-old children: the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000. Eur J Epidemiol 24, 625–634 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-009-9366-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-009-9366-3

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