SOMATIC SYMPTOMS IN ANXIOUS-DEPRESSED SCHOOL REFUSERS

Objective: To identify the most common physical complaints in a sample of adolescent school refusers with comorbid anxiety and depressive di sorders. Whether somatic symptoms are more likely to be associated wit h high levels of anxiety or high levels of depression was also explore d. Method: Forty-four adolescents in a treatment study were evaluated at baseline with structured psychiatric interviews and measures of anx iety, depression, and somatization. Results: The most common somatic c omplaints were in the autonomic and gastrointestinal categories. In si mple regression analyses, anxiety level as measured with the Revised C hildren's Manifest Anxiety Scale and depression level as measured with the Beck Depression Inventory each significantly predicted the severi ty of somatic symptoms. The correlation between percentage of days abs ent from school and severity of somatic symptoms approached significan ce (r = .27, p = .074). Conclusions: Knowledge that somatic complaints are commonly an expression of underlying anxiety and depression may f acilitate more rapid referral for psychiatric assessment and treatment and thereby help avoid unnecessary medical workups and sequelae from school refusal.