Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
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This study investigated factors related to health care utilization (HCU) among patients presenting to pediatric cardiologists with symptoms of chest pain later diagnosed as noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). ⋯ Psychological factors are related to HCU for children with NCCP, with depression positively associated with HCU. The child's sex plays an important role in depression and HCU. Family-focused psychological screening of pediatric patients with NCCP may aid in identifying families who may benefit from referrals for psychological assessment and treatment.