For example, living with a family member with a long term health condition or living in dangerous circumstances. Long-standing stress, where our bodies are on constant high alert waiting for something to happen.Being an anxious or perfectionist kind of person.Someone else in the family having functional symptoms – there is evidence that both genetics and family beliefs play a part in developing functional symptoms.These are what makes a child more likely to get functional symptoms at some point.Įxamples of predisposing factors include: Both the physical symptoms and the mental health symptoms need treatment and sometimes it is the same treatment for both as the mind and body work closely together. Sometimes we never work out which came first – the physical symptoms or, for example, the anxiety. They might include anxiety or depression or other difficulties such as Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is important to detect and diagnose these alongside functional symptoms as they may have their own effective interventions or treatments. Some children with functional symptoms have additional mental health problems. Changes in your family (for example loss of a loved one or someone moving away).Difficulties at school (for example exams, friendship problems).During stressful situations our bodies might react in different ways. What causes functional symptoms?įunctional symptoms often occur at times of stress or distress. However, these ‘medically unexplained symptoms’ can be understood better over time. It can be frustrating not to know the cause. If the symptoms continue and get in the way of everyday life we call these Functional Symptoms (FS) or Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS).įunctional symptoms are common – one in four children have them – and almost everyone has experienced unexplained physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or tummy aches. Often a reason for them can be found, but sometimes it cannot, even after the doctor has done a range of tests. Usually they get better on their own, and if they do not, we might ask the doctor about them. This page from Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) explains about functional symptoms in children and young people and how they can be managed.Everyone can have physical symptoms such as painful or uncomfortable feelings inside the body. They can also be called Medically Unexplained Symptoms or Somatic Symptom Disorder. Coming to GOSH for a day or inpatient admissionĬoming to GOSH for an outpatient appointmentįunctional symptoms are physical symptoms without an obvious physical cause.
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