Unexplained symptoms in primary care

10.33540/97 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Paula Elisabeth van Westrienen
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Unexplained Symptoms

scholarly journals Exploration of DSM-IV Criteria in Primary Care Patients With Medically Unexplained Symptoms

2005 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert C. Smith ◽  
Joseph C. Gardiner ◽  
Judith S. Lyles ◽  
Corina Sirbu ◽  
Francesca C. Dwamena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Medically Unexplained Symptoms ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Primary Care Patients ◽  
Unexplained Symptoms ◽  
Dsm Iv

scholarly journals New models of care: a liaison psychiatry service for medically unexplained symptoms and frequent attenders in primary care

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 340-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janine Bestall ◽  
Najma Siddiqi ◽  
Suzanne Heywood-Everett ◽  
Charlotte Freeman ◽  
Paul Carder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Evidence Synthesis ◽  
Medically Unexplained Symptoms ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Models Of Care ◽  
Liaison Psychiatry ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Early Results ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Unexplained Symptoms

Aims and methodThis paper describes the process of setting up and the early results from a new liaison psychiatry service in primary care for people identified as frequent general practice attenders with long-term conditions or medically unexplained symptoms. Using a rapid evidence synthesis, we identified existing service models, mechanisms to identify and refer patients, and outcomes for the service. Considering this evidence, with local contingencies we defined options and resources. We agreed a model to set up a service in three diverse general practices. An evaluation explored the feasibility of the service and of collecting data for clinical, service and economic outcomes.ResultsHigh levels of patient and staff satisfaction, and reductions in the utilisation of primary and secondary healthcare, with associated cost savings are reported.Clinical implicationsA multidisciplinary liaison psychiatry service integrated in primary care is feasible and may be evaluated using routinely collected data.

Neuroticism, alexithymia, negative affect and positive affect as predictors of medically unexplained symptoms in primary care

2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 181-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. De Gucht
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Negative Affect ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Affective State ◽  
Medically Unexplained Symptoms ◽  
Positive And Negative Affect ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Unexplained Symptoms

Background:Somatization has been defined in a number of ways. Despite their differences, these definitions have one element in common, namely the presence of somatic symptoms that cannot be explained (adequately) by organic findings.Objective:The primary objectives of the dissertation were to gain a better insight into the concept of somatization, and to study (prospectively) the relationship between neuroticism and alexithymia, two personality traits that have been shown to be related to somatization, the affective state dimensions positive and negative affect (or psychological distress) and medically unexplained symptoms.Method:A selective review was conducted regarding conceptual and methodological issues related to somatization. A total number of 318 patients, presenting to their primary care physician with medically unexplained symptoms, participated in the prospective study. Both at baseline and at 6-month follow-up a number of measures were filled out with respect to somatization, neuroticism, alexithymia, negative and positive affect, anxiety and depression.Results:The concept of somatization was clarified, thereby making use of the distinction between presenting and functional somatization. The personality traits neuroticism and alexithymia were found to have an indirect influence on symptom reports. Both the cross-sectional and follow-up data pointed to the importance of positive and negative affect as determinants of (changes in) number of symptoms (over time). Negative affect, together with the alexithymia dimension measuring difficulty identifying feelings, predicted symptom persistence.Conclusions:The theoretical as well as therapeutic implications of the present paper may give an impetus to new research in the domain of somatization.

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