Director of the Department
| Name |
Ayumi Okada |
| Specialist／Certified Physician |
Board Certified Pediatrician
Board certified child mental health medical specialist
Board Certified Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine Physician
|
| Specialty |
Child Psychosomatic Medicine |
The mind and body are closely connected. Children are in the process of mental and physical development and are easily affected by psychosocial stress, resulting in the appearance of various physical symptoms. In addition, mental symptoms such as anxiety and depression, as well as behavioral problems such as truancy, may also appear due to the distress and daily life obstacles associated with physical illness. Based on “psychosomatic medicine,” our department strives to understand children comprehensively from a BioPsychoSocial perspective and to treat them in cooperation with their families, schools, and other surrounding communities.
Scope of Target Diseases
Prolonged physical symptoms
- Orthostatic Dysregulation
- Chronic headaches
- Functional gastrointestinal disorders（e.g. irritable bowel syndrome）
Physical symptoms that also require psychological support
- Eating disorders
- Chronic pain
- Chronic illnesses that affect daily life
- Childcare counseling
Mental and behavioral symptoms
- Difficulty going to preschool or school anxiety specific fears, etc.
Others
- Nocturia, Trichotillomania, nail biting, etc.
Features and Description of Medical Care
Pediatricians and psychologists work together to provide medical care. Outpatient care is by appointment only and lasts 30-60 minutes per patient. We provide consultation for children with chronic diseases and their families, and support for those who are hospitalized for a long period of time in cooperation with other departments and divisions. Our approach is based on both mental and physical aspects. For children, we provide lifestyle guidance, relaxation, counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, drawing therapy, and sandplay therapy. In addition, we also position the family as a collaborator in the treatment, and conduct family interviews and parent training in parallel. Non-verbal psychotherapy such as sandplay therapy may be effective for younger children and children who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally.
Orthostatic Dysregulation（OD）
We provide lifestyle guidance, pharmacotherapy, and school collaboration for treatmet. Using Finometer MIDI and NIRS to continuously measure blood pressure and cerebral blood flow in a non-intensive, non-hematogenous manner. The painless testing method allows regular evaluation of the condition, leading to a more detailed diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Eating disorder
We specialize in the treatment of eating disorders in child and adolescents. We provide treatment based on Family-Based Treatment (FBT), as recommended by the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Pediatrics and various international guidelines. FBT is based on the following core principles: (1) not seeking causes (agnosticism), (2) a non-authoritarian attitude, (3) externalization of disease (separating the patient from the disease), (4) empowerment of the family, and (5) a present-oriented and pragmatic approach. We work collaboratively with families so that they can play a central role in the treatment process and support their child’s recovery.
We also consider the diagnosis and support for ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) to be of great importance. We conduct treatment after carefully assessing a variety of underlying factors, such as sensory sensitivity, fear of food, and developmental disordsrs.
As part of our approach to treating eating disorders, we place great importance on providing comprehensive support that takes into account the child’s overall development, as well as their mental and physical well-being.
＊Initial consultation is for children up to junior high school age.
About Reserch
- Hanzawa M, Hasei J, Okada A, Tanaka C, Shigeyasu Y, et.al. Development of a generative AI agent for family support in implementing family-based treatment for children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa. Digit Health. 2026 Mar 9
- Okada A, Shigeyasu Y, Fujii C, et.al. Psychogenic fever and neurodevelopmental disorders among Japanese children. Biopsychosoc Med. 2024 Dec 18;18(1):23.
- Shigeyasu Y, Okada A, Fujii C, et.al.Quality of life and physical/psychosocial factors in children and adolescents with orthostatic intolerance. Biopsychosoc Med. 2023 Jun 12;17(1):23.
- Sugihara A, Okada A, Horiuchi M, et.al. Evaluating the Coping Behavior of Children with Psychosomatic Disorders under Frustrating Situations Simulated Using the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study.Acta Med Okayama. 2023 Apr;77(2):185-192.
- Nagamitsu S, Kanie A, Sakashita K, et.al. Adolescent Health Promotion Interventions Using Well-Care Visits and a Smartphone Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App: Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2022 May 23;10(5):e34154.
Medical Treatment Results
| Patients seen in FY2025 (actual number, not including duplicates) |
| 1.Psychosomatic disorders |
Functional somatic symptoms 47 |
orthostatic dysregulation, etc. 85 |
| Secondary disorders of chronic diseases 41 |
Perinatal and terminal stage 4 |
| 2.Mental and behavioral disorders |
Adjustment disorder, anxiety, etc. 40 |
Eating disorder, sleep disorder, etc. 66 |
| Intellectual disorder, autistic spectrum disorder 53 |
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, tic disorder 27 |
| 3.Problems arising from diverse backgrounds |
Non-attendance at school 26 |
Self-harm, problematic behavior 16 |
