Key points
- Somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRD) refer to a group of mental health conditions where a person has an extreme focus on physical symptoms, to the point where it impacts their everyday life.
- Children with SSRDs have physical symptoms that can cause major distress and impact key parts of everyday life.
- Two of the most common SSRDs are somatic symptom disorder and functional neurological disorder.
- There are different treatments available for SSRDs; the right one for your child will depend on their symptoms.
- With the right treatment, children with an SSRD will see big improvements in their health and wellbeing.
What are somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRDs)?
The term ‘somatic symptom and related disorders (SSRDs)’ refer to a group of mental health conditions where a person has an extreme focus on physical symptoms, to the point where it impacts their everyday life. They often have excessive thoughts, feelings and behaviours related to their symptoms.
People with an SSRD do not usually have an ‘organic’ medical illness that explains all their symptoms. For example, they do not tend to have physical or biological changes in their body such as tumours or infections.
Impacts of somatic symptom and related disorders
The physical symptoms of an SSRD are very real and can cause a lot of distress. In children, they can affect development and key parts of their lives, such as:
- School
- Relationships with family and friends
- Sport, play and other activities.
Common somatic symptom and related disorders
There are two main SSRDs in children and young people: somatic symptom disorder and functional neurological disorder.
Somatic symptom disorder
Somatic symptom disorder is a condition where a person has an intense fixation on one or more physical symptoms, which they usually have for at least six months.
If your child has somatic symptom disorder, they may:
- constantly think about how serious their symptoms are
- be very anxious about their health and/or symptoms
- feel their emotional or mental stress physically (somatise)
- spend lots of time and energy on their health and/or symptoms.
Signs and symptoms of somatic symptom disorder
Some physical signs and symptoms of somatic symptom disorder include:
- Pain
- Numbness
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Nausea and/or stomach pain
- Shortness of breath.
There is no underlying medical cause for these symptoms.
Functional neurological disorder
Functional neurological disorder – sometimes called ‘conversion disorder’ – is a condition that affects the nervous system. It causes neurological symptoms that affects a person’s senses or physical abilities. These symptoms can be very upsetting and interrupt daily activities such as eating, moving and even getting dressed.
Before diagnosing someone with functional neurological disorder, a doctor will usually run tests to rule out other medical conditions.
Symptoms of functional neurological disorder
Physical symptoms may include:
- weakness or inability to move (paralysis)
- tremors (shakiness)
- trouble walking
- hearing or vision problems
- changes to speech – such as volume or pronunciation
- skin numbness
- a ‘lump in the throat’ feeling and/or trouble swallowing
- non-epileptic seizures and unresponsive periods, similar to fainting.
Much like somatic symptom disorder, there is no medical cause for the symptoms of functional neurological disorder.
Treatment for somatic symptom and related disorders
It can be hard to see your child face the physical symptoms of an SSRD. However, exploring any underlying causes of stress and anxiety in their life is just as important as managing their symptoms. Understanding how these factors may be influencing your child’s symptoms is a key step towards treatment.
There are different ways to treat somatic symptom disorder and functional neurological disorder. Some children may benefit from several together. This process can take time, but with the right treatment and support, many children with an SSRD will see big improvements in their health and wellbeing.
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is a psychological treatment that looks at how people’s thoughts and feelings can impact their behaviour.
This form of therapy aims to help children with SSRDs:
- shift the thoughts that make it hard to cope with their symptoms
- address their experiences with symptoms
- change how they think about and react to symptoms.
Children can have CBT one-on-one with a therapist, or as a family. The family model works similarly, with an added focus on helping parents and carers to support their child’s symptoms and return to everyday activities.
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
Physiotherapy and rehabilitation may help children with SSRDs who have movement-related symptoms. Health professionals like occupational therapists and physiotherapists can support children to increase their energy and fitness levels slowly. They will create a custom treatment plan suited to your child’s needs.
Medicine
Medicine is not often effective at treating the physical symptoms of an SSRD. However, your child’s doctor may prescribe some medicines to help manage related problems such as anxiety and sleep troubles that may be getting in the way of recovery.
Common questions about somatic symptoms and related disorders
Why do children get SSRDs?
Children can develop an SSRD for many reasons. Often, there is no single cause. Some people have symptoms during a viral infection or minor injury, which remain after the illness or injury gets better. Others may feel their emotional or mental stress as physical symptoms (somatising). If this gets worse, it can lead to an SSRD.
How do I know when my child’s symptoms may be an SSRD rather than a medical illness?
Only a doctor can really confirm that your child does not have an underlying medical illness. A few important signs to look out for are if your child has had many tests but results all come back normal; if they have different symptoms across multiple systems of the body; or if their symptoms are not getting better as quickly as you would expect.
For more information
Developed by The Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health department, with input from Adolescent Medicine and the Melbourne Children’s Campus Mental Health Strategy team. We acknowledge the input of the Lived Experience Advisors, and RCH consumers and carers.
Reviewed February 2026
Please always seek the most recent advice from a registered and practising clinician.