S Reid1, T Crayford, A Patel, S Wessely, M Hotopf. 1. Academic Department of Psychological Medicine, GKT School of Medicine, and Institute of Psychiatry, London.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: There are few longitudinal studies of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate outcome in frequent attenders in secondary care who present repeatedly with medically unexplained symptoms. METHOD: Forty-eight patients presenting with medically unexplained symptoms, from a sample of 61, participated in a 3-year follow-up study. Psychiatric morbidity, functional impairment and use of services were evaluated. RESULTS: At follow-up there was a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity with 69% having at least one psychiatric diagnosis. The sample continued to be high users of a range of health services and substantial functional impairment was reported. CONCLUSION: In this group of frequent attenders with medically unexplained symptoms outcome as measured by psychiatric morbidity, service use and functional impairment remained poor after 3 years.
BACKGROUND: There are few longitudinal studies of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. The aim of this study was to investigate outcome in frequent attenders in secondary care who present repeatedly with medically unexplained symptoms. METHOD: Forty-eight patients presenting with medically unexplained symptoms, from a sample of 61, participated in a 3-year follow-up study. Psychiatric morbidity, functional impairment and use of services were evaluated. RESULTS: At follow-up there was a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity with 69% having at least one psychiatric diagnosis. The sample continued to be high users of a range of health services and substantial functional impairment was reported. CONCLUSION: In this group of frequent attenders with medically unexplained symptoms outcome as measured by psychiatric morbidity, service use and functional impairment remained poor after 3 years.
Authors: Shireen Patel; Sam Malins; Boliang Guo; Marilyn James; Joe Kai; Catherine Kaylor-Hughes; Emma Rowley; Jayne Simpson; David Smart; Michelle Stubley; Helen Tyrer; Richard Morriss Journal: BJPsych Open Date: 2016-02-25
Authors: Katja Loengaard; Jakob Bue Bjorner; Per Klausen Fink; Hermann Burr; Reiner Rugulies Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2015-09-02 Impact factor: 3.295