Goal of this study is to research family factors in case of adolescents with MUPS (N=64) and in case of adolescents with medically unexplained physical complaints (N=64). The following family factors are studied: family functioning (for example,…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Somatic symptom and related disorders
- Family issues
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
1. The first primary outcome is family functioning measured by the Family
Assessment Device-N (Epstein et al, 1983). This is a questionaire of 60
self-report items on a 4-point likert scale (1 = totally disagree, 2 =
disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = completely agree). All family members fill in the FAD.
Scores are added for each subscale or an average score is calculated. Scores on
some scales first have to be mirrored. A higher score means better family
functioning.
2. The second primary outcome for measuring family functioning is an adaptation
of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES), namely, the
Family Dimension Scale (GDS) (Neighbor Meyer & Hermans, 1988). This scale is
completed by all family members. It is a self-report list of 44 items that
consists of three scales (cohesion, adaption and social desirability). The
questions about current perception of family functioning and ideal perception
are scored on a 4-point likert scale from "never true" to "always true". For
social desirability only the current perception is taken into account.
3. The thirth primary outcome is the reaction of parents towards adolescents
with SOLK measured by the Illness Behavior Encouragement Scale (Walker & Zeman,
1992). It is a questionnaire with 12 items measuring the behavioral response of
parents to children who are ill or appear sick. The list has a parent and child
version.
4. The fourth primary outcome, the 4 Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire
(Terluin, 1998) is a questionnaire that was developed in the field of general
practice and consists of 50 items, namely, 16 items for distress, 6 items for
depression, 12 items for anxiety and 16 items for somatization.
5. The fifth primary outcome, the experienced physical symptoms, is measured
using the Somatic Complaint List-2 (Jellesma, et al, 2007). The SCL-2 is a
self-report questionnaire in English and Dutch. This questionnaire was
established through observations of school teachers. For this study, the youth
version has been adapted into an parent version. Parents are asked to indicate
to what extent they think their child is experiencing physical symptoms.
Secondary outcome
0
Background summary
Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are frequently encountered in
the health service. Despite the fact that in recent decades more research has
been conducted in this field, relatively few studies have focused on MUPS in
children and adolescents. However, good reasons exist to research MUPS in
children and young adolescents separately from adults. Especially since
research has shown that children can develop significant and long lasting
complaints. Such complaints can be very disabling and may have a negative
impact on their development. Children and adolescents with MUPS also constitute
a considerable expense and burden to the health service.
Inextricably connected to children and adolescents with MUPS are their
families. Family therapy is often mentioned in the (international) literature
in the context of diagnosing and treating MUPS, and has a long tradition in
this respect. Nevertheless, little fundamental research has been conducted on
family functioning and chidren with MUPS.
Study objective
Goal of this study is to research family factors in case of adolescents with
MUPS (N=64) and in case of adolescents with medically unexplained physical
complaints (N=64). The following family factors are studied: family functioning
(for example, adaptation), upbringing (for example, overconcernedness) and
parent characteristics (for example, depression). The following hypotheses will
be investigated:
1. In families with an andolescent with MUPS there is more family pathology
than in families with adolescents with medically explained symptoms.
2. Upbringing, parent characteristics and family functioning are significant
predictors of somatic symptoms of adolescents with MUPS. These factors are not
significant predictors of somatic complaints of adolescents with explained
physical complaints.
3.Upbringing mediates the influence of parent characteristics and family
functioning on somatic complaints of children with MUPS but not on complaints
of adolescents with explained physical symptoms.
Study design
This study is a cross-sectional study in which families are invited to
participate once. Data collection is done by research students for their Master
thesis under supervision of the principal investigator.
Study burden and risks
Completing the questionnaires will take a maximum time of 60 minutes. Patients
will be offered to fill in the questionnaires at home. This in order to
minimize the burden.
For the SOLK patients, in case of ambiguity of diagnoses, there is a one-time
consultation with a psychologist for diagnosis / classification. This interview
will take a maximum of 60 minutes.
There are minimal risk associated with this research. This is because no or
very limited interventions take place and the burden is minimal. Moreover,
subjects can, at any given time withdraw. Accessibility of psychologist is
guaranteed by principal investigator.
Van Riebeeckweg 212
1213 XZ Hilversum
Nederland
Van Riebeeckweg 212
1213 XZ Hilversum
Nederland
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- Families with adolescents between 12 and 19 years with MUPS according to the DSMIVTR criteria and under treatment of a specialist.
- Families with adolecents between 12 and 19 years diagnosed with a chronic medical condition such as epilepsy, asthma or diabetes type 1 and under treatment of a specialist.
- Fluency written and spoken Dutch language.
- Psychiatric and somatic comorbidity is allowed provided that it is of subordinate nature.
Exclusion criteria
-Insufficient comprehension of Dutch language.
-Patients with serious psychiatric comorbity.
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL35870.097.11 |