Key result
Adolescent non-cardiac chest pain is linked to elevated anxiety and psychological distress, especially in girls.
Why the study?
This study aimed to investigate internalizing characteristics, including anxiety and depressive symptoms, in adolescents presenting with non-cardiac chest pain, and to explore effects of sociodemographic variables and prior psychosocial experiences.
Do adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain exhibit elevated internalizing characteristics such as anxiety and depression compared to controls?
Cross-Sectional (n=128)
No
Do adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain exhibit elevated internalizing characteristics such as anxiety and depression compared to controls?
Adolescents presenting with non-cardiac chest pain have significant internalizing symptoms like anxiety and depression, highlighting the need for psychological screening in this population.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May warrant psychological screening in adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain; leaves open causal links and outcome impact.
Background/Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the internalizing characteristics, including anxiety and depressive symptoms, in adolescents presenting with non-cardiac chest pain (NCCP), and to explore the effects of sociodemographic variables and prior psychosocial experiences on psychological distress. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey and included 128 adolescents aged 10–18 years (57.0% female, 43.0% male) who presented to pediatric cardiology or general pediatric outpatient clinics. The Children’s Depression Inventory (CDI), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory for Children (STAI-C), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and the Social Support Appraisals Scale for Children (SSAS-C). Sociodemographic variables and prior psychosocial symptom history were also recorded. Results: Adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain exhibited elevated anxiety and psychological distress compared to controls. Female participants demonstrated higher levels of stress, anxiety, and overall psychological symptom burden than males. Higher maternal age was associated with lower perceived stress, while a prior history of psychosocial symptoms was linked to increased anxiety and global psychological distress. Participants with a history of psychosocial symptoms had higher anxiety (p = 0.027) and BSI (p = 0.004) scores. Significant positive correlations were found between anxiety, depression, obsessive–compulsive symptoms, and the BSI total score (r values ranging from 0.718 to 0.892). Conclusions: Adolescents with NCCP exhibit significant internalizing symptoms, particularly anxiety and depression. Female gender and prior psychosocial stressors were associated with elevated symptom scores. Maternal age may have a buffering effect on adolescent stress levels. These findings underscore the importance of integrating psychological screening into the evaluation of chest pain in adolescents to enable early identification and intervention.
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Yıldırım et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Adolescents aged 10-18 years presenting with non-cardiac chest pain (n=128). None (observational, no intervention) vs. Control group of adolescents without chest pain or psychiatric disorders was evaluated on Internalizing symptoms measured by multiple validated psychological scales (anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress). Adolescents with non-cardiac chest pain exhibited elevated anxiety and psychological distress; girls had higher symptom scores than boys; prior psychosocial symptoms associated with higher anxiety and distress; higher maternal age correlated with lower perceived stress.
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