The 11th Annual Scientific Conference of the European Association of Psychosomatic Medicine, titled “Towards Interdisciplinarity and Translational Research,” took place from June 12-15, 2024, in Lausanne, Switzerland. During the conference, all Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) presented their projects in three final symposia, which focused on mechanisms, communication, and healthcare strategies for functional disorders.
The first symposium, titled “Mechanisms of Functional Disorders,” was chaired by Charlotte Ulrikka Rask from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark. This session explored the underlying mechanisms of functional disorders. Key presentations included Franziska Regnath’s exploration of erroneous sensorimotor processing (Klinikum rechts der Isar, Munich). Tara M. Petzke investigated the impact of negative affect on symptom experience (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz). A summary of Saya Niwa’s research on dysregulated respiratory systems and autonomic stress reactivity was given (Wrocław Medical University, Poland). Lina Münker’s study focused on predictors and developmental mechanisms of functional somatic symptoms in children and adolescents(Aarhus University Hospital). Chloe Saunders concluded the symposium with her presentation on personalized explanatory models of functional somatic symptoms; she also introduced her website, www.bodysymptoms.org, which informs on functional disorders (Aarhus University Hospital).
The second symposium, titled “Communication in Functional Disorders,” was chaired by Chris Burton from the University of Sheffield. This symposium addressed the crucial role of communication in managing functional disorders. Topics included factors influencing the diagnostic labeling of functional somatic disorders, presented by Mais Tattan from the University Medical Center Groningen. Abigail Smakowski from the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf discussed the validity of a newly proposed symptom-based diagnostic framework for persistent somatic symptoms. Additionally, Brodie McGhie-Fraser from the Radboud Institute for Health Services Research presented insights from the development and validation of assessment tools and measures of healthcare professional stigma in persistent somatic symptoms.
The third symposium, titled “Health Care for Functional Disorders,” was led by Judith Rosmalen from the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands. This session focused on healthcare approaches and systemic factors affecting treatment outcomes for functional disorders. Notable presentations included the studies on the prevalence and predictors of treatment success by Caroline Rometsch from the University of Florence, Italy, and Nick Mamo’s discussion on collaborative care networks from (University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands). Aleksandra Kustra-Mulder from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany, presented on healthcare professionals’ views on systemic factors associated with symptom course in persistent somatic symptoms. Asma Chaabouni from Radboudumc, The Netherlands, discussed the course and management strategies for symptoms in primary care. Veronica Cabreira from the University of Edinburgh, UK, presented the development of a novel screening tool and self-help digital intervention for functional cognitive disorder.
Each symposium was closed with insights into the podcasts that all ESR worked on. All symposia attracted a very interested audience, fostering vivid discussions. The results of each project presented at the symposium are anticipated to have a profound impact on future clinical and scientific practice, shaping the way functional disorders are diagnosed, managed, and treated. These findings will contribute to the refinement of clinical approaches and the establishment of more effective, evidence-based guidelines, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes. At the end of the EAPM conference all ETUDE ESRs received their EAPM Junior Fellowship Certificates.
