Psychiatry and Psychology in Minnesota

Treatment of Children and Adolescents with Chronic Medical Symptoms

Long-standing physical illnesses can take a serious toll on the adjustment and well-being of children and adolescents. In particular, chronic medical symptoms can drastically interfere with school attendance and participation in extracurricular activities, as well as with a child's family and social life. Children who have suffered from chronic pain, fatigue, and associated physical disabilities are at an increased risk for depression.

Treatment of children and adolescents with chronic illnesses in the Mayo Clinic Child, Adolescent and Family Treatment Program emphasizes restoring the patient to full physical and psychological health. Special attention is given to promoting independence with activities of daily living, normal eating habits, emotional adjustment and, especially, a full return to normal activities and social functioning. These goals are accomplished through a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach involving behavioral management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and family therapy, as well as medical and psychiatric evaluation.

Children and adolescents treated in the program have had such health conditions as:

• Abdominal pain
• Chronic headache
• Fibromyalgia
• Non-epileptic seizures
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)