A systematic review of somatic symptoms in children with a chronically ill family member, 2020, Lindsey et al

[Andy]

Objective
Somatization and functional somatic symptoms reflect conditions in which physical symptoms are not sufficiently explained by medical conditions. Literature suggests that these somatic symptoms may be related to illness exposure in the family. Children with a parent or sibling with a chronic illness may be particularly vulnerable to developing somatic symptoms. This study provides a systematic review of the literature on somatic symptoms in children with a chronically ill family member.

Methods
A systematic review (PROSPERO registry ID:CRD42018092344) was conducted using six databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane) from articles published prior to April 5, 2018. All authors evaluated articles by title and abstract, and then by full-text review. Relevant data were extracted by the first author and reviewed by remaining authors.

Results
Twenty-seven unique studies met criteria. Seventeen examined somatic symptoms in children with a chronically ill parent and seven evaluated somatic symptoms in children with a chronically ill sibling. Three studies examined somatic symptoms in children with an unspecified ill relative. The strongest relationship between child somatization and familial illness was found with children with a chronically ill parent (13 out of 17 studies). Evidence for somatic symptoms in children with an ill sibling was mixed (4 out of 7 studies found a positive association).

Conclusions
The literature on somatic symptoms in children suggest parental illness is related to increased somatic symptoms in children. Research examining the effects of having a sibling with an illness on somatic symptoms is mixed. Several areas of future research are outlined to further clarify the relationship between familial chronic illness and somatic symptoms.

Paywall, https://journals.lww.com/psychosoma...atic_review_of_somatic_symptoms_in.98554.aspx
Not available via Sci hub at time of posting

 

[Sean]

Somatization and functional somatic symptoms reflect conditions in which physical symptoms are not sufficiently explained by medical conditions.

By known medical conditions (physiopathology).

This is nothing more than a linguistic sleight-of-hand, and a pretty obvious one at that.

They simply jump from speculation to certainty, with no intervening proof. Sometimes they even do it in the same paper. Even in the same sentence. Then just endlessly rinse and repeat.

It is the basis of their claim. Without this shallow trick they have nothing.

Yet this is regarded as cutting edge science.

 

[Sid]

The strongest relationship between child somatization and familial illness was found with children with a chronically ill parent (13 out of 17 studies). Evidence for somatic symptoms in children with an ill sibling was mixed (4 out of 7 studies found a positive association).

Sickly people with chronic illnesses are likely to have sickly children, nothing surprising there. Why does our society have to psychologise everything?