scholarly journals Does alexithymia, independent of depressive and anxiety disorders, correlate with the severity of somatic manifestations among patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms?

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 204380872110437
Author(s):  
Ahmed Rady ◽  
Roa Alamrawy ◽  
Ismail Ramadan ◽  
Mervat Abd El Raouf
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Predictive Capacity ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Axis I ◽  
Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Tas 20

Background: Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are highly prevalent, frequently co-occurring with psychiatric symptoms such as depression, alexithymia, and anxiety. Objective: To evaluate the relation between depression, anxiety, and alexithymia and severity of somatic symptoms in patients with MUPS. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 196 patients suffering from MUPS. The patients were recruited from tertiary care internal medicine and neuropsychiatry clinics during the first quarter of 2019. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-15), (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders Clinician Version (SCID-I-CV), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) were employed to assess somatic severity, depression, anxiety, major mental disorders, and alexithymia in the sample of patients. Results: The results of the study indicate that GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores had a positive correlation with PHQ-15 ( p < 0.05) in multivariate regression. In contrast, TAS-20 was not independently correlated with PHQ-15. Adding TAS-20 to GAD-7 and PHQ-9 in the equation of the regression model enhances the predictive capacity of the model ( p < 001). Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that only anxiety and depressive symptoms, but not alexithymia, were associated independently with MUPS severity.

scholarly journals ICD-10-Coding of Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms and Somatoform Disorders—A Survey With German GPs

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadine J. Pohontsch ◽  
Thomas Zimmermann ◽  
Marco Lehmann ◽  
Lisa Rustige ◽  
Katinka Kurz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Somatoform Disorders ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Response Options ◽  
Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are reluctant to use codes that correspond to somatization syndromes.Aim: To quantify GPs' views on coding of medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS), somatoform disorders, and associated factors.Design and Setting: Survey with German GPs.Methods: We developed six survey items [response options “does not apply at all (1)”—“does fully apply (6)”], invited a random sample of 12.004 GPs to participate in the self-administered cross-sectional survey and analysed data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses.Results: Response rate was 15.2% with N = 1,731 valid responses (54.3% female). Participants considered themselves familiar with ICD-10 criteria for somatoform disorders (M = 4.52; SD =.036) and considered adequate coding as essential prerequisite for treatment (M = 5.02; SD = 1.21). All other item means were close to the scale mean: preference for symptom or functional codes (M = 3.40; SD = 1.21), consideration of the possibility of stigmatisation (M = 3.30; SD = 1.35) and other disadvantages (M = 3.28; SD = 1.30) and coding only if psychotherapy is intended (M = 3.39; SD = 1.46). Exposure, guideline knowledge, and experience were most strongly associated with GPs' self-reported coding behaviour.Conclusions: Subjective exposure, guideline knowledge, and experience as a GP, but no sociodemographic variable being associated with GPs' subjective coding behaviour could indicate that GPs offer a relatively homogeneous approach to coding and handling of MUPS and somatoform disorders. Strengthening guideline knowledge and implementation, and practise with simulated patients could increase the subjective competence to cope with the challenge that patients with MUPS and somatoform disorders present.

The cross-sectional relation between medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) and the Cortisol Awakening Response

2017 ◽  
Vol 99 ◽  
pp. 130-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Claassen-van Dessel ◽  
Johannes C. van der Wouden ◽  
Joost Dekker ◽  
Judith G.M. Rosmalen ◽  
Henriëtte E. van der Horst
Keyword(s):  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Cortisol Awakening Response ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Unexplained Physical Symptoms

Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: Toward an Alternative Paradigm for Diagnosis and Treatment

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (S3) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos A. Ballas ◽  
Jeffrey P. Staab
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Chest Pain ◽  
Physical Symptom ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Axis I Disorders ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Axis I ◽  
Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Medical Symptoms

AbstractThe treatment of patients with unexplained medical symptoms is difficult because there is neither a clear etiology for the symptoms, nor a useful paradigm with which to understand and treat them. Patients with such symptoms are often referred to psychiatry with vague diagnoses of “somatization” or “hypochondriasis.” Rather than considering somatoform diagnoses based on the number or diversity of physical symptoms, evolving research suggests an emphasis on the type of physical symptom as an indicator of Axis I pathology. This article links specific symptomatic complaints, such as chronic pain, chest pain, and dizziness, to the respective Axis I disorders associated with them, such as depression, panic disorder, and anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Recognition of patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms by family physicians: results of a focus group study

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Madelon den Boeft ◽  
Danielle Huisman ◽  
Johannes C. van der Wouden ◽  
Mattijs E. Numans ◽  
Henriette E. van der Horst ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Focus Group Study ◽  
Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms ◽  
Medically Unexplained ◽  
Unexplained Physical Symptoms
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document