A developmental perspective on functional somatic symptoms

Abstract

Objective: To provide a new approach for conceptualizing and studying functional somatic symptoms (FSS) in children and adolescence. Methods: A developmental model is proposed based on the synthesis of the extant literature and previous theoretical perspectives of FSS in children and adolescents. Results: Multiple risk and protective factors from child, familial, social, and environmental domains, the interactions across risk domains, and potential developmental pathways of FSS are identified. Conclusions: This article underscores the necessity of taking a broader, developmental view of FSS. The tenets of developmental psychopathology emphasize the utility of viewing FSS on a continuum of severity rather than as a discrete entity or diagnosis. This article concludes with directions for future research and treatment implications. © The Author 2007.