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| |  Anxiety and Depression Linked To Physical Symptoms In Teens BALTIMORE, MD -- May 9, 1997 -- Teenagers who miss a lot of school because of dizziness, stomach problems, or other symptoms may have underlying anxiety or depression, reports a study in theMay issue of the Journal of American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Conducted by child and adolescent psychiatrist, Gail A. Bernstein, M.D. of the University of Minnesota, the study notes that recognizing the "psychosomatic" nature of these symptoms may help to identify the real problem while avoiding unnecessary diagnostic tests and problems related to absence from school. The 44 subjects consisted of 17 male and 27 female 12 to 19 year olds. They were selected for the study because they were depressed, anxious, and missing a lot of school. In the month before the study, they were absent an average of 72 percent of the school year. One-fourth had not been to school at all in the previous month. School attendance was not strongly related to the severity of the symptoms and was unrelated to the level of anxiety or depression. The most frequent symptoms were lightheadedness or dizziness, sick stomach, and back pain. Other common symptoms included stomach pains, vomiting, and menstrual problems. The more severe the anxiety and depression, the more severe the symptoms. Some symptoms were related to specific forms of anxiety. For example, teens with anxiety about separation were highly likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms but unlikely to have cardiovascular symptoms. Parents, school administrators, and physicians should recognize that adolescents who have many symptoms and are missing a lot of school may need to be evaluated for possible anxiety or depression, the researchers emphasize. Recognizing this link permits proper treatment, prevents unnecessary and drawn-out diagnostic tests, and avoids the problem of chronic absence from school. More research is needed on the link between psychiatric and physical symptoms in teens, and how it affects school attendance. The authors plan further reports to see how the teens in the study respond to treatment for their anxiety and depression. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry represents over 6,300 child and adolescent psychiatrists, physicians with at least five years of additional training beyond medical school in adult, child, and adolescent psychiatry. Academy members actively research, diagnose, and treat psychiatric disorders affecting children, adolescents, and their families.
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