Review Functional disorders in children and adolescents 2026 Toft-Kehler et al

[Andy]

Abstract

Functional somatic disorders are common in youth, leading to reduced daily functioning, impaired quality of life and stagnation of development. The functional somatic symptoms cannot exclusively be explained by somatic disease and are best understood within a biopsychosocial framework, in which biological dysregulation, predictive coding and psychosocial factors interact in development and maintenance. Prevalence is increasing, and the condition often requires interdisciplinary collaboration, especially when comorbidities are present. Early diagnosis and family based cross-sectional intervention are key to preventing deterioration and chronicity, as argued in this review.

Open access (in Danish)

 

[Sean]

The functional somatic symptoms cannot exclusively be explained by somatic disease​

Brave claim.

 

[Arnie Pye]

I am so glad that my ailments up to the age of 10 were all visible (rashes, spots, and ulcers) and fevers could be measured with a thermometer.

It is as if the people writing these biopsychosocial papers are priming parents to always disbelieve their children.

 

[Utsikt]

The functional somatic symptoms cannot exclusively be explained by somatic disease and are best understood within a biopsychosocial framework, in which biological dysregulation, predictive coding and psychosocial factors interact in development and maintenance.

Apparently they have managed to acquire total and absolute knowledge about all of human biology, and they have done all tests possible to exclude any other explanations. These people deserve nobel prizes for such extraordinary achievements.

Of course the entire thing is also dualistic, in the sense that they claim that there is something other than the somatic, i.e. the biological.

 

[rvallee]

The functional somatic symptoms cannot exclusively be explained by somatic disease and are best understood within a biopsychosocial framework

That's completely circular, though, because this is just the definition of a biopsychosocial model. Might as well say that science can't explain angels. This being true doesn't change anything to its validity. It's not true to say that they can't be explained by somatic disease. Not knowing and not being possible are entirely different things. This is pure logical fallacy.

predictive coding

Zero evidence for relevance here. Purely speculative.

the condition often requires interdisciplinary collaboration

cross-sectional intervention are key to preventing deterioration and chronicity

Does it? Is it? Or is it just how things are done? All of which is a massive failure.

They call this evidence-based medicine. It requires zero evidence.