RecruitingNot Applicable

Alexithymia and Attachment Style in Patients With Somatic Symptoms

Italy300 participantsStarted 2021-06-15

Plain-language summary

To evaluate whether emotional awareness, attachment style and the ability to abstract and symbolize (IQ) influence the appearance of somatic symptoms. Hypothesis: the investigators expect the presence of somatic symptoms linked to the lower ability of emotional awareness, to lower ability to abstract and symbolize and to an insecure attachment style.

Who can participate

Age range

11 Years – 17 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinical condition characterized by somatic symptoms such as recurrent abdominal pain, recurrent vomiting, dyspepsia, psychogenic cough, and chronic functional pain (headache, migraine, musculoskeletal pain) for which an organic cause has been excluded and whose symptom has had a strong impact on the quality of life (presence of the symptom for six months, school absenteeism, social isolation, immobility, psychological distress, difficulty in participating in sports and extracurricular activities, etc.), as per Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. * Age between 11 and 17 years * Italian speaking * Patients' and parents' consent Exclusion Criteria: * Cognitive and/or developmental impairment * Difficulty in understanding the Italian language * Presence of organic disease diagnosis * Lack of informed consent * Patient who does not meet DSM-5 criteria for somatic symptom disorder Caregiver exclusion criteria: * Cognitive deficits * Difficulty in understanding the Italian language * Lack of informed consent Control group population inclusion criteria: * Age between 11 and 17 years * Adequate knowledge of the Italian language * Consent to participate

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Emotional awareness

Timeframe: Patients fill out the questionnaire at their enrollment in the study, during their first psychological consult after medical referral.

attachment style

Timeframe: Patients fill out the questionnaire at their enrollment in the study, during their first psychological consult after medical referral.

Ability to abstract and symbolize (IQ)

Timeframe: Patients fill out the questionnaire at their enrollment in the study, during their first psychological consult after medical referral.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05666921

SponsorMeyer Children's Hospital IRCCS

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2026-12

Contact for this trial

Rosanna Martin, MSc

055 5662475 rosanna.martin@meyer.it

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Somatic Symptom Disorder trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

11 Years – 17 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

What they're measuring

Emotional awareness

Timeframe: Patients fill out the questionnaire at their enrollment in the study, during their first psychological consult after medical referral.

attachment style

Timeframe: Patients fill out the questionnaire at their enrollment in the study, during their first psychological consult after medical referral.

Ability to abstract and symbolize (IQ)

Timeframe: Patients fill out the questionnaire at their enrollment in the study, during their first psychological consult after medical referral.