{
  "abstract": "Purpose: Adolescents with chronic diseases often experience psychosomatic comorbidity. However, systematic evaluation of psychosocial stress is not yet implemented in structured transition programs from pediatric to adult health care. The aim was to evaluate psychosocial burden, family functioning, knowledge of their illnesses and identify needs for support. Methods: Among n = 92 adolescents with chronic diseases psychosocial stress and family functioning were assessed using validated questionnaires at the beginning of transition: (Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), 8-item Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8), Somatic Symptom Disorder-B Criteria Scale (SSD-12), Systemic Clinical Outcome and Routine Evaluation (SCORE-15)). The patient´s disease-specific knowledge and need for counselling were assessed using a transition questionnaire. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 42 adolescents with increased psychosocial burden and analysed using qualitative content analysis by Kuckartz. Results: 39.6% (95% CI = 29%, 50%) were moderately impaired by somatic complaints (SSS-8) and 6.5% (95% CI = 1%, 12%) raised severe concerns due to somatic symptoms (SSD-12). 20.6% (95% CI = 10.3%, 28%) showed symptoms of moderate or severe depression (PHQ-9), whereas 11.9% (95% CI = 6.8%, 17.5%) suffered from moderate or severe generalized anxiety disorder symptoms (GAD-7). Family functioning was assessed as good (SCORE-15); and a lower family functioning was significantly associated with higher psychosomatic symptom severity (p < 0.05). Qualitative analysis identified four main categories: somatic complaints, psychological aspects, informational aspects, and structural problems. Discussion: At the beginning of the transition, adolescent patients with chronic diseases suffered from psychosomatic burden and a lower family functioning was associated with higher psychosomatic symptom severity. Therefore, assessment of psychosocial burden and family functioning should be integrated into transition programs to provide specific support and initiate early interventions.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Pediatrics I, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany",
    "Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany",
    "Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany",
    "Institute for General Practice and Interprofessional Care, Tübingen University Hospital, TübingenGermany"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Daniela Choukair"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Amelie Beuchert"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Cinara Paul"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Alexander Fichtner"
    },
    {
      "name": "Georg F. Hoffmann"
    },
    {
      "name": "Hans-Christoph Friederich"
    },
    {
      "name": "Beate Wild"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1hywfm8w4wq97.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359441",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "1hywfm8w4wq97",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359441",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3616|Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Neuroscience/Cognitive science/Cognitive psychology/Clinical psychology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Clinical psychology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Psychological stress"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Psychometrics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Psychological and psychosocial issues"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Mood disorders/Depression"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Neuropsychiatric disorders/Anxiety disorders"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Neuroses/Anxiety disorders"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Mental health and psychiatry/Psychological stress"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Population groupings/Age groups/Children/Adolescents"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Population groupings/Families/Children/Adolescents"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Cognitive psychology/Clinical psychology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Psychological stress"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Psychometrics"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Sociology/Human families"
    ]
  ],
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  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0359441&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1hywfm8w4wq97.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0359441",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0359441"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:clinical psychology",
      "subfield": "psychiatry"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Psychosomatic symptom burden and family functioning of adolescents with chronic diseases in transition to adult medicine – Implications for psychosocial support",
  "title_text": "Psychosomatic symptom burden and family functioning of adolescents with chronic diseases in transition to adult medicine – Implications for psychosocial support",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1hywfm8w4wq97",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}