A selective review of child psychiatric syndromes with a somatic presentation.

This review focuses on 'aches and pains' and conversion syndromes as a basis for the description of psychological factors and mechanisms of relevance for the somatisation of distress in childhood and which may contribute to medical help-seeking for children. The characteristic pattern of associated psychological factors includes child personality features; academic concerns; family health problems; and styles of family interaction. Further research is required to explore in more depth the nature of these factors, the mechanisms that mediate the development of severe handicapping problems, and effective interventions.