Age- and sex-specific associations between adverse life events and functional bodily symptoms in the general population.

Objective: To test age- and sex-specific associations between adverse life events and functional bodily symptoms (FBS) in the general population.

Methods: In a population-based cohort, 964 participants (mean age 55 years SD 11, 48% male) completed two measurements waves of the present study. Lifetime exposure to 12 adverse life events was assessed through a modified version of the List of Threatening Experiences.

Predictors for persistence of functional somatic symptoms in adolescents.

Objective: To identify risk factors for persistence of functional somatic symptoms (FSS; ie, somatic symptoms that cannot be sufficiently explained by underlying organic pathology).

Study Design: The first (N = 2230, mean age = 11.1 years [SD 0.

The prospective association between childhood cognitive ability and somatic symptoms and syndromes in adulthood: the 1958 British birth cohort.

Background: Cognitive ability is negatively associated with functional somatic symptoms (FSS) in childhood. Lower childhood cognitive ability might also predict FSS and functional somatic syndromes in adulthood. However, it is unknown whether this association would be modified by subjective and objective measures of parental academic expectations.

The association between intelligence and telomere length: a longitudinal population based study.

Low intelligence has been associated with poor health and mortality, but underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We hypothesized that low intelligence is associated with accelerated biological ageing as reflected by telomere length; we suggested potential mediation of this association by unhealthy behaviors and low socioeconomic position. The study was performed in a longitudinal population-based cohort study of 895 participants (46.

[How do patients interpret terms for medically unexplained symptoms?].

Objective: To investigate how primary care patients interpret the existing terminology used to describe medically unexplained symptoms; to contribute to the current academic discussion on unequivocal terminology.

Design: Descriptive cohort study.

Methods: We approached patients in the waiting rooms of two general medical practices in the city of Groningen and in the province of Drenthe.

Predictors of a functional somatic syndrome diagnosis in patients with persistent functional somatic symptoms.

Background: Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are characterized by the existence of multiple persistent functional somatic symptoms. Not many patients fulfilling the criteria for an FSS, receive a formal diagnosis, and it is unknown which factors explain this discrepancy. Patients that tend to worry and patients that gather more health information may have an increased chance of an FSS diagnosis.

Adolescents with low intelligence are at risk of functional somatic symptoms: the TRAILS study.

Purpose: Low intelligence is a risk factor for functional somatic symptoms (FSSs) in adults, but it is unknown whether a similar association exists in adolescents. We hypothesized that low intelligence may lead to FSS, and that this association is mediated by low school performance. In addition, we hypothesized that this mediation is particularly present in adolescents who perceive high parental expectations.