To evaluate the efficacy and sustainability of inpatient psychosomatic therapy in children and adolescents by examining both psychological outcomes and biological markers.
Approach:
Participants: 58 patients were assessed at seven time points before, during, and after treatment.
Measurements: Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was measured as a neuroendocrine parameter of long-term stress regulation, alongside psychometric data collected using five validated questionnaires.
Key Findings:
Significant improvements were observed in perceived stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms, family functioning, and internalizing symptoms during inpatient treatment.
These effects remained stable at three- and six-month follow-ups, although there were transient increases in depressive symptoms and family problems.
Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) showed a significant decrease from admission to discharge and remained stable across follow-ups.
Interpretation:
The results support the efficacy of inpatient pediatric psychosomatic interventions on both psychological outcomes and neuroendocrine stress regulation.
Limitations:
The study's design may not fully capture the complexity of psychosomatic disorders, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Existing literature on pediatric psychosomatic therapy is limited and lacks comprehensive follow-up data, which may affect the understanding of long-term treatment effects.
Conclusion:
The study highlights the value of integrating biological markers into psychotherapy research.
