TY - JOUR
KW - Attitude to Health
KW - Humans
KW - Physician's Role
KW - Physician-Patient Relations
KW - Primary Health Care
KW - Somatoform Disorders/diagnosis/psychology/therapy
AU - C. Burton
A1 - 
AB - Patients commonly present in primary care with symptoms for which no physical pathology can be found. This study is a review of published research on medically unexplained symptoms (MUPS) in primary care. A literature review and qualitative comparison of information was carried out. Four questions were addressed: what is the prevalence of MUPS; to what extent do MUPS overlap with psychiatric disorder; which psychological processes are important in patients with MUPS; and what interventions are beneficial? Neither somatised mental distress nor somatisation disorders, based on symptom counts, adequately account for most patients seen with MUPS. There is substantial overlap between different symptoms and syndromes, suggesting they have much in common. Patients with MUPS may best be viewed as having complex adaptive systems in which cognitive and physiological processes interact with each other and with their environment. Cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressant drugs are both effective treatments, but their effects may be greatest when the patient feels empowered by their doctor to tackle their problem.
BT - The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
C5 - Medically Unexplained Symptoms
CP - 488
CY - England
IS - 488
JF - The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
N2 - Patients commonly present in primary care with symptoms for which no physical pathology can be found. This study is a review of published research on medically unexplained symptoms (MUPS) in primary care. A literature review and qualitative comparison of information was carried out. Four questions were addressed: what is the prevalence of MUPS; to what extent do MUPS overlap with psychiatric disorder; which psychological processes are important in patients with MUPS; and what interventions are beneficial? Neither somatised mental distress nor somatisation disorders, based on symptom counts, adequately account for most patients seen with MUPS. There is substantial overlap between different symptoms and syndromes, suggesting they have much in common. Patients with MUPS may best be viewed as having complex adaptive systems in which cognitive and physiological processes interact with each other and with their environment. Cognitive behavioural therapy and antidepressant drugs are both effective treatments, but their effects may be greatest when the patient feels empowered by their doctor to tackle their problem.
PP - England
PY - 2003
SN - 0960-1643; 0960-1643
SP - 231
EP - 239
EP - 
T1 - Beyond somatisation: a review of the understanding and treatment of medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS)
T2 - The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
TI - Beyond somatisation: a review of the understanding and treatment of medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS)
U1 - Medically Unexplained Symptoms
U2 - 14694702
VL - 53
VO - 0960-1643; 0960-1643
Y1 - 2003
ER -