A pediatric case of somatic symptom and related disorders presenting acute pain in bilateral legs

Abstract

Although psychological interventions are well established in the treatment of chronic pain, their importance in acute pain is not documented. We report a pediatric case of acute pain in the bilateral legs, which was later diagnosed as somatic symptom and related disorders. A 10-year-old girl presented with acute bilateral leg pain; she could not ambulate without physical support. She visited our hospital on a wheelchair with extended knees and was admitted. Despite examination by expert doctors, the cause of her acute pain could not be identified. Her class teacher visited her on the fifth day of hospital stay; subsequently, her pain disappeared and she began to walk. She was diagnosed with brief somatic symptom disorder, which belongs to the group of somatic symptom and related disorders. Resolution of socio-psychological concerns can occasionally ameliorate severe acute pain. Psychological approach can be effective in the management of pediatric cases of acute pain.