The importance of an eclectic psychodiagnostic and psychotherapeutic approach in the treatment of adolescents with psychosomatic and dissociative symptoms – a single case report

Abstract

An increase in psychosomatic and dissociative complaints has been observed in the adolescent population due to their rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial development, which leaves them prone to mental disorder. Psychosomatic and dissociative symptoms affect the overall functioning of the adolescent. This case study aims to illustrate the psychological assessment of, and therapeutic approach with a 14-year-old Slovenian schoolgirl presenting with psychosomatic and dissociative symptoms. Treatment may differ from child to child and must be based on an individualized assessment of the child’s needs and stage of development. The eclectic psychotherapeutic approach (CBT, TA, mindfulness, EMDR) used is described in this article. At the beginning of the therapeutic process, the participant reported struggling with headaches as well as experiencing weakness in her legs and losing consciousness 3-4 times a week. Such episodes occurred predominantly at school, where she had experienced trauma as a result of bullying by her peers. Medical examinations did not reveal any identifiable physical causes for these symptoms. At the beginning of the therapeutic process, the participant rated the pain intensity as 7/10 on the VAS scale. After 6 months of psychotherapy (15 sessions), she reported no longer having pain and no longer losing consciousness. At the follow-up sessions four and eight months after the end of the therapeutic program, she confirmed that she no longer had any symptoms.