Somatoform respiratory disorders in children and adolescents-proposals for a practical approach to definition and classification

Biobehavioral approach to distinguishing panic symptoms from medical illness

Panic disorder is a common psychiatric diagnosis characterized by acute, distressing somatic symptoms that mimic medically-relevant symptoms. As a result, individuals with panic disorder overutilize personal and healthcare resources in an attempt to diagnose and treat physical symptoms that are often medically benign. A biobehavioral perspective on these symptoms is needed that integrates psychological and medical knowledge to avoid costly treatments and prolonged suffering. This narrative review examines six common somatic symptoms of panic attacks (non-cardiac chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, dizziness, abdominal distress, and paresthesia), identified in the literature as the most severe, prevalent, or critical for differential diagnosis in somatic illness, including long COVID. We review somatic illnesses that are commonly comorbid or produce panic-like symptoms, their relevant risk factors, characteristics that assist in distinguishing them from panic, and treatment approaches that are typical for these conditions. Additionally, this review discusses key factors, including cultural considerations, to assist healthcare professionals in differentiating benign from medically relevant symptoms in panic sufferers.

A whole new world of healing: exploring medical hypnotherapy for pediatric patients : A review

This narrative review aims to unravel the potential of medical hypnotherapy for the treatment of children with a variety of diseases and symptoms. Going beyond its history and assumed neurophysiology, the chances of success for hypnotherapy will be outlined per pediatric speciality, accentuated by clinical research and experiences. Future implications and recommendations are given on extracting the positive effects of medical hypnotherapy for all pediatricians.    Conclusion: Medical hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for children with specified conditions such as abdominal pain or headache. Studies suggest effectiveness for other pediatric disciplines, from the first line up to third line of care. In a time in which health is defined as 'a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being', hypnotherapy stays an underrated treatment option for children. It is a unique mind-body treatment, which true potential still needs to be unraveled. What is Known: • Mind-body health techniques become a more relevant and accepted part of treatment in pediatric patients. • Medical hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for children with specified conditions such as functional abdominal pain. What is New: • Studies suggest the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in a high variety of pediatric symptoms and disease. • Hypnotherapy is a unique mind-body treatment which potential goes far beyond its current utilization.

"Psychological characteristics of functional respiratory disorders in children and adolescents-Pilot study"

BACKGROUND

Aim of our prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized study was to identify characteristic features and similarities of patients with functional respiratory disorders regarding socio-familial and behavioral aspects, in comparison with controls in a cross-sectional analysis using standardized psychological questionnaires. Furthermore, we investigated the longitudinal outcome of symptoms, effects of primary interventions and the stability of psychological traits 6 months after diagnosis and primary intervention.

METHODS

Initially, 106 patients (68 females, 27 males) and 58 controls (33 females, 25 males) were recruited for the study. Mean age was 12.6 years in patients and 11.9 years in controls.

RESULTS

The child behavior checklist (CBCL) showed significantly increased scores for anxious/depressed (p = 0.002) and schizoid/obsessive (p = 0.001) behavior in patients. A trend was evident for internalizing behavior (p = 0.009) and for a higher total score (p = 0.008). In the self-assessment youth self-report (YSR), there was a trend towards higher values for anxious/depressed behavior in patients (p = 0.06) and towards more externalizing behavior (p = 0.029) in the control group. After 6 months, 31% of the patients were free of symptoms, 42% had improved. For themselves, parents reported a decreased burden from 56% to 23% (p < 0.001) and decreased impairment from 57% to 30% (p < 0.008). For their children, parents reported a decrease from 45% to 16% (p < 0.0001) and from 74% to 37% (p < 0.0001), respectively. A longitudinal comparison from T1 to T2 showed no statistically significant changes in all three psychological questionnaires (CBCL, YSR, and SOMS-KJ).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we show that patients with functional respiratory disorders differ from healthy subjects, with internalizing behavior being a characteristic trait. The outcome in terms of symptoms, perceived psycho-familial burden and impairment after 6 months is encouraging. However, we are aware that our preliminary data offer thought-provoking impulses rather than firm findings.

Psychological profiles, quality of life, and parental attitudes in children with Sighing dyspnea

BACKGROUND

There are a limited number of studies investigating the relationship of sighing dyspnea (SD) with psychiatric disorders and various mental states.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 39 pediatric patients with SD, but free from apparent cardiopulmonary diseases, who presented to a pediatric pulmonology policlinic between June and December 2019 and age-gender matched 34 healthy children were recruited for comparison. Patient characteristics, psychological or physical trauma history, and cigarette smoke exposure were recorded. All the participants completed the "NOSE scale," "Modified Borg Scale," "Children Depression Inventory," "Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders," "Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory," "Stress Coping Style Scale," "Family Assessment Device," and "Parents Attitude Scale."

RESULTS

Compared to the control group, there was a statistically significantly higher rate in the SD group of physical or psychological trauma history (35.9% vs. 14.7%, p = .04) and passive cigarette smoking (60.5% vs.27.3%, p = .005). When the groups were compared in respect of depression and anxiety levels, the depression score, total anxiety level, somatic/panic, generalized anxiety and fear of school points were determined to be statistically significantly higher in the SD group. The QoL scores (total, physical, and psychosocial) in the SD group were found to be statistically significantly lower than those of the control group.

CONCLUSION

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to have examined the psychological profiles of SD patients and their families in detail, and to have evaluated the effect of SD on quality of life.

Increased Incidence of Stress-related Tic Habit Cough in Children During the Recent Greek Financial Crisis

BACKGROUND/AIM

Tic habit cough (THC) is not easily recognized and requires a high index of suspicion. Since there is evidence for stress-related etiology, the study presents our experience during the eight-year period of the recent Greek financial crisis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a descriptive prospective cross-sectional clinical study using a consistent approach to diagnosis, possible triggers and treatment options.

RESULTS

Fifty-one children (26 girls, age 9.5±3.1y) from a total of 3,793 new referrals for chronic cough fulfilled the criteria of THC (1.34%). Incidence rates per 1,000 person-years were 1.34 (95%CI=0.34-5.40), 3.91 (95%CI=1.86-8.19), 4.03 (95%CI=2.01-8.06) and 14.60 (95%CI=10.43-20.44) for every two years. Poisson analysis showed an increased trend during the four time periods with an incidence rate ratio equal to 2.21 (95%CI=1.58-3.09, p<0.001). THC was mainly attributed to learning difficulties, as well as stress-related impact of peer or family bullying, family financial problems and child anxiety disorders.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of THC is associated with the negative aspects of stressors during a period of financial crisis. The potential underlining psycho-physiological mechanisms are discussed as well as the fact that prompt diagnosis may result in successful interventions.

Functional Respiratory Disorders in Children

Functional respiratory disorders (FRDs) are those characterized by respiratory symptoms without anatomic or organic etiology. Clinicians caring for children encounter these disorders and should be familiar with diagnosis and treatment. FRDs encompass the habit cough syndrome and its variants, vocal cord dysfunction, hyperventilation disorders, functional dyspnea, and sighing syndrome. Failure to identify these disorders results in unnecessary testing and medication. This article reviews the clinical presentation, manifestation, and treatment of respiratory FRDs in children. How health care providers can successfully identify and treat these reversible conditions in the clinical setting is discussed.

Diagnosis in children with exercise-induced respiratory symptoms: A multi-center study

OBJECTIVE

Exercise-induced respiratory symptoms (EIS) are common in childhood and reflect different diseases that can be difficult to diagnose. In children referred to respiratory outpatient clinics for EIS, we compared the diagnosis proposed by the primary care physician with the final diagnosis from the outpatient clinic and described diagnostic tests and treatments.

DESIGN

An observational study of respiratory outpatients aged 0-16 years nested in the Swiss Paediatric Airway Cohort (SPAC).

PATIENTS

We included children with EIS as the main reason for referral. Information about diagnostic investigations, final diagnosis, and treatment prescribed came from outpatient records. We included 214 children (mean age 12 years, range 2-17, 54% males) referred for EIS.

RESULTS

The final diagnosis was asthma in 115 (54%), extrathoracic dysfunctional breathing (DB) in 35 (16%), thoracic DB in 22 (10%), asthma plus DB in 23 (11%), insufficient fitness in 10 (5%), chronic cough in 6 (3%), and other diagnoses in 3 (1%). Final diagnosis differed from referral diagnosis in 115 (54%, 95%-CI 46%-60%). Spirometry, body plethysmography, and exhaled nitric oxide were performed in almost all, exercise-challenge tests in a third, and laryngoscopy in none. 91% of the children with a final diagnosis of asthma were prescribed inhaled medication and 50% of children with DB were referred to physiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnosis given at the outpatient clinic often differed from the diagnosis proposed by the referring physician. Diagnostic evaluations, management, and follow-up differed between clinics and diagnostic groups highlighting the need for evidence-based diagnostic guidelines and harmonized procedures for children seen for EIS.

Wheeze and cough measurements at night in children with respiratory symptoms

Background

Nocturnal cough and wheeze are important symptoms when diagnosing any respiratory disease in a child, but objective measurements of these symptoms are not performed.

Methods

The aim of our study was to analyze the use of an automated detection system to assess breath sounds objectively in comparison to cough and wheeze questionnaires and to evaluate its feasibility in clinical practice.

Results

Forty-nine recordings of thirty-nine children were processed (asthma n = 13; cystic fibrosis n = 2; pneumonia n = 5; suspicion of habit cough n = 7; prolonged, recurrent or chronic cough n = 13), and cough and asthma scores were compared to the objective nocturnal recordings. Time for audio-validation of recordings took between 2 and 40 min (mean: 14.22 min, (SD): 10.72). Accuracy of the automated measurement was higher for cough than for wheezing sounds. Nocturnal cough readings but not wheeze readings correlated with some of the corresponding scores.

Conclusion

To our knowledge this is the first study using a new device to assess nocturnal cough and obstructive breath sounds objectively in children with a wide variety of respiratory diseases. The assessment proved user friendly. We obtained additional information on nighttime symptoms, which would otherwise have remained obscure. Further studies to assess possible diagnostic and therapeutic benefits of this device are needed.

Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion in Difficult Asthma Is Associated with Dysfunctional Breathing and Preserved Lung Function

BACKGROUND

Many patients with difficult asthma also have coexisting vocal cord dysfunction (VCD), evident by paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) on laryngoscopy.

OBJECTIVE

Among patients with difficult asthma, we sought to identify clinical features associated with laryngoscopy-diagnosed PVFM.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with "difficult asthma" referred by respiratory specialists underwent systematic assessment in this observational study. Those with a high clinical suspicion for VCD were referred for laryngoscopy, either at rest or after mannitol provocation. Statistical analyses were performed to identify clinical factors associated with PVFM, and a multivariate logistic regression model was fitted to control for confounders.

RESULTS

Of 169 patients with difficult asthma, 63 (37.3%) had a high clinical probability of VCD. Of 42 who underwent laryngoscopy, 32 had PVFM confirmed. Patients with PVFM more likely had preserved lung function (prebronchodilator forced expiratory ratio 74% ± 11 vs 62% ± 16, P < .001); physiotherapist-confirmed dysfunctional breathing (odds ratio [OR] = 5.52, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.4-12.7, P < .001), gastro-oesophageal reflux (OR = 2.6, 95% CI: 1.16-5.8, P = .02), and a lower peripheral eosinophil count (0.09 vs 0.23, P = .004). On multivariate logistic regression, independent predictors for PVFM were dysfunctional breathing (OR = 4.93, 95% CI: 2-12, P < .001) and preserved lung function (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.028-1.106, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Among specialist-referred patients with difficult asthma, VCD pathogenesis may overlap with dysfunctional breathing but is not associated with severe airflow obstruction. Dysfunctional breathing and preserved lung function may serve as clinical clues for the presence of VCD.

Psychiatric comorbidity in children with psychogenic and functional breathing disorders

BACKGROUND

The present study aims to assess psychiatric diagnoses in children with psychogenic and functional breathing disorders (PFBD), which consist of children with psychogenic cough, throat-clearing tics, and sighing dyspnea, and compare them to a control group without any diagnosis of chronic medical problems.

METHODS

The participants consist of 52 children with PFBD and 42 children without any chronic medical problems. Psychiatric diagnoses were assessed via semistructured psychiatric interviews in both groups.

RESULTS

The two groups did not differ on age (PFBD group 11.25 ± 2.61, control group 11.17 ± 2.58; t = 0.14, P = .88) or sex (48.1% of the PFBD group were female, 61.9% of the control group were female; χ²  = 1.79, P = .18). 55.8% of the PFBD group and 28.6% of the control group had at least one psychiatric diagnosis according to the semistructured interviews (χ²  = 6.99, P = .008). The most common psychiatric diagnoses in the PFBD group were attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD; 17.3%), tic disorders, (15.4%), and specific phobia (15.4%). 11.5% of the cases in the PFBD group were diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder and more than half of the patients (n = 27 (51.9%)) showed clinical characteristics of tic disorders.

CONCLUSION

Psychiatric diagnoses are common in children with PFBD, and teamwork involving child psychiatrists may be essential for the management of children with PFBD.

Tic disorders in the differential diagnosis of chronic cough in children in relation to four cases

Chronic cough is a frequent reason for medical referrals in childhood. In patients who do not have signs or symptoms of an underlying respiratory system disease and who do not respond to experimental treatment, psychogenic cough should be considered. In this paper, four patients who were referred to our department with a prediagnosis of psychogenic cough, found to have tic disorder as a result of the assessments performed and improved with antipsychotic medication are presented. The differantial diagnosis of chronic cough in children should include tic disorders as well as psychogenic cough. Tic disorders can be diagnosed easily with detailed history and their response to medical treatment is rather satisfactory. Recognition of these disorders by pediatricians will minimize erroneous diagnoses and inappropriate therapies in children with a complaint of chronic cough.

[Persistent coughs in children and adolescents]

A persistent cough lasting more than 4-8weeks should lead to a diagnostic workup. A detailed history and a full clinical examination, with a chest X-ray, are essential for initial assessment. Most reported causes of chronic cough in children are post-nasal drip syndrome, cough variant asthma (a spirometry with test of bronchodilator responsiveness should be attempted in children old enough to perform the manoeuvres). GERD is often suspected but a causal relationship is difficult to establish. Protracted bacterial bronchitis, post-infectious cough (B. pertussis, Mycoplasma) and somatoform respiratory disorders (including hyperventilation syndrome) are also common. Signs which are pointers suggesting an underlying respiratory or systemic disease require further investigation: inhaled foreign bodies, cystic fibrosis and chronic lung diseases with bronchiectasis, airway abnormalities, interstitial lung diseases need to be considered. Recent reports of refractory coughs have identified features of a sensory neuropathy disorder, and might explain persistent cough triggers.

Getting to grips with 'dysfunctional breathing'

Dysfunctional breathing (DB) is common, frequently unrecognised and responsible for a substantial burden of morbidity. Previously lack of clarity in the use of the term and the use of multiple terms to describe the same condition has hampered our understanding. DB can be defined as an alteration in the normal biomechanical patterns of breathing that result in intermittent or chronic symptoms. It can be subdivided into thoracic and extra thoracic forms. Thoracic DB is characterised by breathing patterns involving relatively inefficient, excessive upper chest wall activity with or without accessory muscle activity. This is frequently associated with increased residual volume, frequent sighing and an irregular pattern of respiratory effort. It may be accompanied by true hyperventilation in the minority of subjects. Extra thoracic forms include paradoxical vocal cord dysfunction and the increasingly recognised supra-glottic 'laryngomalacia' commonly seen in young sportsmen and women. While the two forms would appear to be two discreet entities they often share common factors in aetiology and respond to similar interventions. Hence both forms are considered in this review which aims to generate a more coherent approach to understanding, diagnosing and treating these conditions.

Hypnosis in paediatric respiratory medicine

Hypnotherapy is an often misunderstood yet effective therapy. It has been reported to be useful within the field of paediatric respiratory medicine as both a primary and an adjunctive therapy. This article gives a brief overview of how hypnotherapy is performed followed by a review of its applications in paediatric patients with asthma, cystic fibrosis, dyspnea, habit cough, vocal cord dysfunction, and those requiring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. As the available literature is comprised mostly of case series, retrospective studies, and only a single small randomized study, the field would be strengthened by additional randomized, controlled trials in order to better establish the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment, and to identify the processes leading to hypnosis-induced physiologic changes. As examples of the utility of hypnosis and how it can be taught to children with respiratory disease, the article includes videos that demonstrate its use for patients with cystic fibrosis.

An 11-year-old girl with up to 19,200 coughs per day: broadening therapeutic strategies

An 11-year-old girl was transferred to the Universidad de Chile Clinical Hospital after 2.5 months of persistent and unresponsive treatment for coughlike spasms. On arrival, the frequency of symptoms was 1 cough every 4 s, which disappeared during sleep. A multidisciplinary examination excluded allergic, viral, respiratory, epileptic, and other more usual causes of similar conditions. Two diagnoses (psychogenic cough and transient vocal tic disorder) and a mixed intervention were proposed leading to resolution in 12 days of treatment. No recurrence of symptoms was observed during several evaluations within 12 months of medical follow-up. An association between the 2 diagnoses is proposed and discussed.