Improvement in Functioning and Psychological Distress in Adolescents With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome Following Interdisciplinary Treatment

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2016 Dec;55(14):1300-1304. doi: 10.1177/0009922816638663. Epub 2016 Jul 19.

Abstract

Significant functional impairment and psychological distress have been observed in adolescent patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs have been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of chronic pain in adults and adolescents. Only preliminary data have examined interdisciplinary rehabilitation efforts in patients with POTS. This study evaluated the impact of an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program on the functional impairment and psychological distress in 33 adolescents diagnosed with POTS. Patients included in the study were adolescents ages 11 to 18 diagnosed with POTS. Measures completed at admission and discharge from the program included the Functional Disability Index, Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression-Child scale, and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale for Children. After participation in the 3-week program, adolescents with POTS demonstrated a significant increase in overall functional ability and significant reductions in depression and catastrophizing.

Keywords: adolescents; interdisciplinary treatment; postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living / psychology*
  • Adolescent
  • Catastrophization / complications
  • Catastrophization / psychology
  • Catastrophization / therapy
  • Child
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods
  • Depressive Disorder / complications
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy
  • Diet / methods
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / complications
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / psychology
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / therapy
  • Female
  • Health Education / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Occupational Therapy / methods
  • Physical Therapy Modalities
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome / complications
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome / psychology*
  • Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome / therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / complications
  • Stress, Psychological / psychology*
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy*