Pediatric somatization in the emergency department: assessing missed opportunities for early management, 2020, Virk et al

[Andy]

Objective
Somatization is a common phenomenon that can severely complicate youths’ functioning and health. The burden of somatization on pediatric acute care settings is currently unclear; better understanding it may address challenges clinicians experience in effectively caring for somatizing patients. In this study, we estimate the prevalence of somatization in a pediatric emergency department (ED).

Methods
We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of visits for non-critical, non-mental health-related concerns (n = 150) to a quaternary-level pediatric ED between July 2016 and August 2017. Demographic and clinical visit details were collected through chart review and used by two reviewing clinicians to classify whether each visit had a “probable,” “unclear” (possible), or “unlikely” somatizing component.

Results
Approximately 3.33% (n = 5) of youth displayed probable somatization, and an additional 13.33% (n = 20) possibly experienced a somatizing component but require additional psychosocial and visit documentation to be certain. Longer symptom duration and multiple negative diagnostic tests were associated with a higher likelihood of either probable or possible somatization.

Conclusions
A considerable proportion of non-mental health-related visits may involve a somatizing component, indicating the burden of mental health concerns on the ED may be underestimated. A higher index of suspicion for the possibility of somatization may support clinicians in managing somatizing patients.

Paywall, https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour...y-management/471FBA3508298FE62AA5BFA48608E9E1
Sci hub, https://sci-hub.se/10.1017/cem.2019.477

 

[Amw66]

 

[Sean]

Somatization is a common phenomenon

Oh well, that's settled then.

 

[Hoopoe]

When a person thinks they have special insight that others lack that allows them to know about invisible and unobservable causes of disease they are probably considered eccentric and a little stupid, in the worst cases maybe even psychotic. Except when it's a very popular delusional belief like that of psychogenic illness.

 

[Invisible Woman]

Just of curiosity, does anyone know if there's a starting age point for diagnosis of somatization in paediatrics?

I do wish they would think about/could see the life limiting consequences of such B.S.. Blighting a person's life before they've even begun living it.

 

[rvallee]

Demographic and clinical visit details were collected through chart review and used by two reviewing clinicians to classify whether each visit had a “probable,” “unclear” (possible), or “unlikely” somatizing component.

Ah, yes, the famously accurate and precise unit of measurement known as a "guesstimate", the SI unit being known as a Shrug.

And what is the actual measured accuracy of this guesstimate unit? My guess would be much less than 3.3% and I would even give you 2 extra precision digits, because everyone knows serious guesstimates require at least 2 and 4 is just a bit overconfident.

And the goopification of medicine powers on. Physicians are now wizards who can sense whether disease is present or not, I guess.

 

[Amw66]

Ah, yes, the famously accurate and precise unit of measurement known as a "guesstimate", the SI unit being known as a Shrug.

And what is the actual measured accuracy of this guesstimate unit? My guess would be much less than 3.3% and I would even give you 2 extra precision digits, because everyone knows serious guesstimates require at least 2 and 4 is just a bit overconfident.

And the goopification of medicine powers on. Physicians are now wizards who can sense whether disease is present or not, I guess.

Sounds similar to a school file note pre ME. It was noted that there was no reason for my daughter not being at school ( sore throat not believed- first hint of glandular fever) . Still on file.

 

[rvallee]

Sounds similar to a school file note pre ME. It was noted that there was no reason for my daughter not being at school ( sore throat not believed- first hint of glandular fever) . Still on file.

And how often are problems later identified corrected? Most of the time it would be different physicians likely not even working on the same file, there's literally no system in place to track a diagnosis across multiple providers so very likely someone "diagnosed" with conversion whatever then later diagnosed with a non-discriminated disease wouldn't even get corrected, always remain as one of those false stats that go into the churn of the fake mental health crisis.

Accuracy and integrity of data are the hardest part of any data analysis and frankly medicine is terrible at both whenever there is any ambiguity that leans towards the dark corners of discriminated chronic diseases. It doesn't matter how smart or clever a process to analyse data is if at source they are incorrect because of biases and personal convictions from the physicians who produced it, especially if there is no means to correct invalid data.

 

[alktipping]

more bs so lazy shits with a medical degree can say not my problem . just how rife is this amongst medical professionals . will it take a very high percentage of patients demanding these cretins are removed from practice for anything to change .