Young adolescents with Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms (MUPS) and their Family Functioning

1. The first primary outcome measure is family functioning measured by the

Family Assessment Device-N (Epstein et al, 1983). This is a questionair of 60

self-report items on a 4-point likert scale scored (1 = totally disagree, 2 =

disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = completely agree). All family members fill in the FAD.

Scores are summed for each subscale ore there is an average score calculated.

For the scores on some scales, scores first have to be mirrored. A higher score

means better family functioning.



2. The second primary outcome measure for measuring family functioning is an

adaptation of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES),

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

comprise three scales (cohesion, adaption and social desirability). The

questions are scored on a 4-point likert scale from "never true" to "always

true" about the current perception of family functioning and the ideal

perception. For social desirability only the current perception accounts.

1. The autonomy experienced by young people is measured by the Adolescent

Autonomy Questionnaire-B (Noom et al, 2001). It is a self-report questionnaire

comprising 15 items with three dimensions of autonomy that are being

distinguished: (1) attitudinal autonomy or the extent to which the adolescent

himself can attain a goal, provide alternatives to consider and take a decision

(eg "I make quick choices. "), (2) emotional autonomy or the extent to which

the adolescent has confidence in his own choices and goals (eg" If I disagree

with others, I say that. "), and (3) functional autonomy or the extent to which

the adolescent can develop strategies to one's own goal (eg "I usually go right

to my goal.").



2. The Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (Frost & Marten, 1990) is a

self-report questionnaire comprising 35 items which has six dimensions of

perfectionism that can be distinguished: 1. The Concern over Mistakes (CM), 2.

Personal Standards (PS) 3. Parent Expectations (PE) scale. 4. Parental

Criticism (PC) scale. Doubting of Actions 5 (D) 6. Organization (O).



3. The CBSA (perceived competence scale for adolescents) (Treffers et al, 2002)

consists of seven subscales each consisting of five items (35 items total). For

each item, two groups of youths are described. The younger marks to which group

of young people he / she belongs and whether he belongs "completely" or "a

little" to the group. For the present study the academic skills subscale will

be used.



4.De reaction of parents towards odolescents with SOLK measured by the Illness

Behavior Encouragement Scale (Walker & Zeman, 1992). It is a questionnaire with

12 items maesuring the behavioral response of parents to children who are ill

or sickly. The list has a parent and child versions.



5. The 4 Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (Terluin, 1998) is a questionnaire

that was developed within the general practice and consists of 50 items, 16

items for Distress, 6 items for depression, 12 items for anxiety and 16 items

for Somatization.



6. By the youth experienced physical symptoms are being maesured using the

Somatic Complaint List-2 (Jellesma, et al, 2007). The SCL-2 is a self-report

questionnaire in English and Dutch, which was established through observations

of school teachers. For this study, the youth version was also changed into an

parent version indicate to what extent they think their child is experiencing

physical symptoms.