TY - JOUR
T1 - Somatic symptoms, severe mood dysregulation, and aggressiveness in preschool children
AU - Serra Giacobo, Rodrigo
AU - Jané, Ma Claustre
AU - Bonillo, Albert
AU - Ballespí, Sergi
AU - Díaz-Regañon, Natalia
PY - 2012/1/1
Y1 - 2012/1/1
N2 - Many researchers have studied somatic symptoms in children. However, its association with severe mood dysregulation (SMD) is poorly known. The aim of this study is to detect the presence of SMD in preschool children and to know the prevalence of somatic symptoms and associations with psychopathology, SMD, and aggressiveness. The study population consists of children between 3 to 6 years of age enrolled in Barcelona's kindergarten schools (n = 319). Their parents completed questionnaires about the presence of somatic symptoms in children, absences from school and pediatric visits, child psychiatric symptoms, presence of symptoms of SMD, and aggressiveness. Teachers were also informed about SMD and aggressiveness. Children who complained frequent somatic symptoms (three or more in the last 2 weeks) were compared with those who did not. Two hundred five children (64.3%) reported at least one physical complaint in the 2 weeks preceding the study. One hundred participants (31.3%) reported frequent somatic complaints. Positive associations were found with anxiety symptomatology, separation anxiety, social phobia, pediatric visits, and school absences, but not with aggressiveness or SMD symptoms. Somatic symptoms are common in a sample of preschool children but do not show a positive association with the symptoms of SMD. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
AB - Many researchers have studied somatic symptoms in children. However, its association with severe mood dysregulation (SMD) is poorly known. The aim of this study is to detect the presence of SMD in preschool children and to know the prevalence of somatic symptoms and associations with psychopathology, SMD, and aggressiveness. The study population consists of children between 3 to 6 years of age enrolled in Barcelona's kindergarten schools (n = 319). Their parents completed questionnaires about the presence of somatic symptoms in children, absences from school and pediatric visits, child psychiatric symptoms, presence of symptoms of SMD, and aggressiveness. Teachers were also informed about SMD and aggressiveness. Children who complained frequent somatic symptoms (three or more in the last 2 weeks) were compared with those who did not. Two hundred five children (64.3%) reported at least one physical complaint in the 2 weeks preceding the study. One hundred participants (31.3%) reported frequent somatic complaints. Positive associations were found with anxiety symptomatology, separation anxiety, social phobia, pediatric visits, and school absences, but not with aggressiveness or SMD symptoms. Somatic symptoms are common in a sample of preschool children but do not show a positive association with the symptoms of SMD. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.
KW - Preschoolers
KW - Psychopathology
KW - Severe mood dysregulation
KW - Somatic symptoms
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1495-5
DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-011-1495-5
M3 - Article
VL - 171
SP - 111
EP - 119
JO - European Journal of Pediatrics
JF - European Journal of Pediatrics
SN - 0340-6199
ER -