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Functional Symptoms in Pediatric Disease pp 269–284Cite as

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth with Functional Somatic and Internalizing Symptoms

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Abstract

Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) are prevalent, highly comorbid with internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression), and cause significant impairment to youth and their families. Children and adolescents with FSS typically pursue repeated medical consultations without relief, and internalizing symptoms are rarely detected. Research has shown that cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), an effective intervention for internalizing disorders, is a promising alternative treatment approach for youth with FSS. Physicians can play a critical role in facilitating patients’ access to CBT by identifying internalizing symptoms and promoting families’ engagement in a nonmedical intervention. This chapter provides guidelines to help physicians identify internalizing symptoms and provide psychoeducation about the biopsychosocial model. A description of brief cognitive-behavioral strategies that can be implemented by physicians and their staff, as well as more specialized techniques that should be implemented by a professional with training in CBT, will be presented. Finally, two case studies will illustrate the application of CBT for youth with FSS and internalizing symptoms.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Advanced Studies in Psychology, Kean University, Hillside, NJ, USA

    Daniela B. Colognori PsyD

  2. Department of Psychology, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, USA

    Kathleen Herzig PhD

  3. Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA

    Laura C. Reigada PhD

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Goryeb Children’s Hospital – Atlantic Health System/Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Morristown, NJ, USA

    Alycia Leiby MD

  5. Psychology Department, William Patterson University, Science Hall East, Room 2062, 300 Pompton Road, Wayne, NJ, 07470, USA

    Carrie Masia Warner PhD

  6. Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NJ, USA

    Carrie Masia Warner PhD

  7. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA

    Carrie Masia Warner PhD

Authors
  1. Daniela B. Colognori PsyD
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  2. Kathleen Herzig PhD
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  3. Laura C. Reigada PhD
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  4. Alycia Leiby MD
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  5. Carrie Masia Warner PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carrie Masia Warner PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA

    Ran D. Anbar

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Colognori, D.B., Herzig, K., Reigada, L.C., Leiby, A., Warner, C.M. (2014). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth with Functional Somatic and Internalizing Symptoms. In: Anbar, R. (eds) Functional Symptoms in Pediatric Disease. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8074-8_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-8074-8_19

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