Presenter: Dr Andrew Court
Synopsis:Somatoform Disorders (also known as “functional disorders” and “Medically Unexplained Symptoms”) are very common in children and adolescents. Many are managed effectively as outpatients either in primary care or by paediatricians. However, the severe end of the spectrum regularly attend tertiary hospital emergency departments and are often admitted under medical bed cards. They are invariably difficult to manage and are usually resistant to traditional medical treatment, to reassurance and to mental health referral.
Speaker Bio: Dr Andrew Court is a Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at the Royal Children’s Hospital who has previously trained and worked as a Paediatrician. He is the clinical co-director of the eating disorder service at the Royal Children’s Hospital and also has an interest in somatoform disorders. He is in the process of trying to develop screening tools for these disorders, to develop a consistent model of care and to develop guidelines as to when it is appropriate to involve mental health. This talk will include clinical case discussion, a review of the current state of knowledge and suggestions for future models of treatment.
Grand Rounds presented on 04 April 2012