Other medical presentations and considerations in pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry

Abstract

This chapter covers some of the more common consultation-liaison psychiatry scenarios, including the patient with “somatic” symptoms of uncertain etiology requiring a thorough evaluation for “other medical” etiologies and the patient with behavioral symptoms more clearly attributable to “other medical” or “biological” (in the biopsychosocial formulation) etiologies. The consultant can play a key role in adequately investigating differential possibilities, in addressing all relevant aspects of the biopsychosocial formulation, in establishing an expected course of recovery, and in insuring that the child and family feel supported. The case vignettes will review the traditional somatic symptom and related disorders as well as other situations where the psychiatrist can help guide the team in considering other medical etiologies for behavioral symptoms.