Alexithymia and Attachment Style in Patients With Somatic Symptoms
NCT ID: NCT05666921
Last Updated: 2025-09-26
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
300 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2021-06-15
2026-12-31
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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CASE_CONTROL
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Study Groups
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Pediatric patients
The group is made up of pediatric patients, and an accompanying caregiver, belonging to the functional chronic pain clinic of Pain Therapy and Palliative Care, to the Gastroenterology and Nutrition Unit, to the Bronchopneumology Unit and Medical Pediatrics as well as to the Pediatric Psychology Unit, who present with somatic symptom disorders.
psychological assessment
The intervention consists in the assessment of some psychological aspects (emotional awareness, attachment style and the ability to abstract and symbolize (IQ)) of pediatric patients who present with somatic symptom disorders. , through specific tests. Each patient fills out the test battery during the psychological consult. At the same time, it is involved a parent to collect personal and clinical data through an ad hoc questionnaire.
Control group
The population of the control group, recruited through informal channels according to a sampling of convenience, will be enrolled on the basis of the expected inclusion criteria.
psychological assessment
The intervention consists in the assessment of some psychological aspects (emotional awareness, attachment style and the ability to abstract and symbolize (IQ)) of pediatric patients who present with somatic symptom disorders. , through specific tests. Each patient fills out the test battery during the psychological consult. At the same time, it is involved a parent to collect personal and clinical data through an ad hoc questionnaire.
Interventions
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psychological assessment
The intervention consists in the assessment of some psychological aspects (emotional awareness, attachment style and the ability to abstract and symbolize (IQ)) of pediatric patients who present with somatic symptom disorders. , through specific tests. Each patient fills out the test battery during the psychological consult. At the same time, it is involved a parent to collect personal and clinical data through an ad hoc questionnaire.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Age between 11 and 17 years
* Italian speaking
* Patients' and parents' consent
* Age between 11 and 17 years
* Adequate knowledge of the Italian language
* Consent to participate
Exclusion Criteria
* Difficulty in understanding the Italian language
* Presence of organic disease diagnosis
* Lack of informed consent
* Patient who does not meet DSM-5 criteria for somatic symptom disorder
* Cognitive deficits
* Difficulty in understanding the Italian language
* Lack of informed consent
11 Years
17 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
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Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Rosanna Martin
Principal Investigator
Principal Investigators
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Rosanna Martin, MSc
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS
Locations
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Meyer Children's Hospital
Florence, Firenze, Italy
IRCCS Gianna Gaslini
Genova, , Italy
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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References
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Afari N, Ahumada SM, Wright LJ, Mostoufi S, Golnari G, Reis V, Cuneo JG. Psychological trauma and functional somatic syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychosom Med. 2014 Jan;76(1):2-11. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000010. Epub 2013 Dec 12.
Andresen JM, Woolfolk RL, Allen LA, Fragoso MA, Youngerman NL, Patrick-Miller TJ, Gara MA. Physical symptoms and psychosocial correlates of somatization in pediatric primary care. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2011 Oct;50(10):904-9. doi: 10.1177/0009922811406717. Epub 2011 May 16.
Bagby RM, Parker JD, Taylor GJ. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. J Psychosom Res. 1994 Jan;38(1):23-32. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(94)90005-1.
Bonvanie IJ, Kallesoe KH, Janssens KAM, Schroder A, Rosmalen JGM, Rask CU. Psychological Interventions for Children with Functional Somatic Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pediatr. 2017 Aug;187:272-281.e17. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.03.017. Epub 2017 Apr 14.
Cerutti R, Spensieri V, Valastro C, Presaghi F, Canitano R, Guidetti V. A comprehensive approach to understand somatic symptoms and their impact on emotional and psychosocial functioning in children. PLoS One. 2017 Feb 8;12(2):e0171867. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171867. eCollection 2017.
Coddington RD. The significance of life events as etiologic factors in the diseases of children. II. A study of a normal population. J Psychosom Res. 1972 Jun;16(3):205-13. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(72)90045-1. No abstract available.
Kascakova N, Furstova J, Hasto J, Madarasova Geckova A, Tavel P. The Unholy Trinity: Childhood Trauma, Adulthood Anxiety, and Long-Term Pain. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 8;17(2):414. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17020414.
Friedrichsdorf SJ, Postier A, Eull D, Weidner C, Foster L, Gilbert M, Campbell F. Pain Outcomes in a US Children's Hospital: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Survey. Hosp Pediatr. 2015 Jan;5(1):18-26. doi: 10.1542/hpeds.2014-0084.
Friedrichsdorf SJ, Giordano J, Desai Dakoji K, Warmuth A, Daughtry C, Schulz CA. Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents: Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Pain Disorders in Head, Abdomen, Muscles and Joints. Children (Basel). 2016 Dec 10;3(4):42. doi: 10.3390/children3040042.
Fonagy P, Luyten P, Moulton-Perkins A, Lee YW, Warren F, Howard S, Ghinai R, Fearon P, Lowyck B. Development and Validation of a Self-Report Measure of Mentalizing: The Reflective Functioning Questionnaire. PLoS One. 2016 Jul 8;11(7):e0158678. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0158678. eCollection 2016.
Geist R, Weinstein M, Walker L, Campo JV. Medically unexplained symptoms in young people: The doctor's dilemma. Paediatr Child Health. 2008 Jul;13(6):487-91.
Ha C, Sharp C, Ensink K, Fonagy P, Cirino P. The measurement of reflective function in adolescents with and without borderline traits. J Adolesc. 2013 Dec;36(6):1215-23. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.09.008. Epub 2013 Oct 25.
Janssens KA, Oldehinkel AJ, Rosmalen JG. Parental overprotection predicts the development of functional somatic symptoms in young adolescents. J Pediatr. 2009 Jun;154(6):918-23.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2008.12.023. Epub 2009 Feb 1.
Janssens KA, Rosmalen JG, Ormel J, van Oort FV, Oldehinkel AJ. Anxiety and depression are risk factors rather than consequences of functional somatic symptoms in a general population of adolescents: the TRAILS study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2010 Mar;51(3):304-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02174.x. Epub 2009 Sep 28.
King S, Chambers CT, Huguet A, MacNevin RC, McGrath PJ, Parker L, MacDonald AJ. The epidemiology of chronic pain in children and adolescents revisited: a systematic review. Pain. 2011 Dec;152(12):2729-2738. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.07.016.
Kugler BB, Bloom M, Kaercher LB, Truax TV, Storch EA. Somatic symptoms in traumatized children and adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2012 Oct;43(5):661-73. doi: 10.1007/s10578-012-0289-y.
Luyten P, Mayes LC, Nijssens L, Fonagy P. The parental reflective functioning questionnaire: Development and preliminary validation. PLoS One. 2017 May 4;12(5):e0176218. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176218. eCollection 2017.
Moreno MA. Functional abdominal pain in children and adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. 2013 Feb;167(2):204. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.1665. No abstract available.
Schulte IE, Petermann F. Somatoform disorders: 30 years of debate about criteria! What about children and adolescents? J Psychosom Res. 2011 Mar;70(3):218-28. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.08.005. Epub 2010 Nov 4.
Taylor EM, Boyer K, Campbell FA. Pain in hospitalized children: a prospective cross-sectional survey of pain prevalence, intensity, assessment and management in a Canadian pediatric teaching hospital. Pain Res Manag. 2008 Jan-Feb;13(1):25-32. doi: 10.1155/2008/478102.
Taylor GJ, Parker JD, Bagby RM, Acklin MW. Alexithymia and somatic complaints in psychiatric out-patients. J Psychosom Res. 1992 Jul;36(5):417-24. doi: 10.1016/0022-3999(92)90002-j.
Troisi A, D'Argenio A, Peracchio F, Petti P. Insecure attachment and alexithymia in young men with mood symptoms. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2001 May;189(5):311-6. doi: 10.1097/00005053-200105000-00007.
van der Veek SM, Derkx HH, de Haan E, Benninga MA, Boer F. Emotion awareness and coping in children with functional abdominal pain: a controlled study. Soc Sci Med. 2012 Jan;74(2):112-9. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.10.023. Epub 2011 Nov 27.
Varni JW, Waldron SA, Gragg RA, Rapoff MA, Bernstein BH, Lindsley CB, Newcomb MD. Development of the Waldron/Varni pediatric pain coping inventory. Pain. 1996 Sep;67(1):141-150. doi: 10.1016/0304-3959(96)03077-1.
Wearden AJ, Lamberton N, Crook N, Walsh V. Adult attachment, alexithymia, and symptom reporting: an extension to the four category model of attachment. J Psychosom Res. 2005 Mar;58(3):279-88. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.09.010.
Other Identifiers
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somatic symptoms
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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