Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms.

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Research Abstract Details 

Research Abstract Table of Contents

Jump to the:

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Abstract Text:

Robert C Smith,Francesca C Dwamena,

Patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) have little or no demonstrable disease explanation for the symptoms, and comorbid psychiatric disorders are frequent. Although common, costly, distressed, and often receiving ill-advised testing and treatments, most MUS patients go unrecognized, which precludes effective treatment. To enhance recognition, we present an emerging perspective that envisions a unitary classification for the entire spectrum of MUS where this diagnosis comprises severity, duration, and comorbidity. We then present a specific approach for making the diagnosis at each level of severity. Although our disease-based diagnosis system dictates excluding organic disease to diagnose MUS, much exclusion can occur clinically without recourse to laboratory or consultative evaluation because the majority of patients are mild. Only the less common, "difficult" patients with moderate and severe MUS require investigation to exclude organic diseases. By explicitly diagnosing and labeling all severity levels of MUS, we propose that this diagnostic approach cannot only facilitate effective treatment but also reduce the cost and morbidity from unnecessary interventions.

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Publishing Authors By Initials

RC Smith,FC Dwamena,

For similar mental disorders: somatoform disorders research abstracts see: mental disorders: somatoform disorders research

PUBMED ID PMID:

MEDLINE DATE:

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Journal Published:

PUBLICATION TYPE: Research Support, N.I.H., Extr

Journal: Journal of general internal medicine : official jo

VOLUME: 22

Page Numbers: 685-91

Journal Abbreviation:

ISSN: 1525-1497

DAY: 3

MONTH: May

YEAR: 2007

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Information

Number of References:

LANGUAGE: eng

NlmUniqueID: 8605834

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Keywords Mesh Terms:

KEYWORDS: Somatoform Disorders

MESH TERMS: diagnosis

Chemical & Substance for Abstract: Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms. Information

Substance Name:

Registry Number:

Grant and Affiliation Information for Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms.

AFFILIATION: Department of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. robert.smith@ht.msu.edu

Country: United States

AGENCY: United States NIMH

GRANT: MH 57099

ACRONYM: MH

MEDLINETA: J Gen Intern Med

REFSOURCE:

DATABASENAME:

ACCESSION NUMBER:

Number Hits: 0

Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms Related Publications

• Classification and diagnosis of patients with medically unexplained symptoms.
• Multidetector computed tomography angiography for assessment of in-stent restenosis: meta-analysis of diagnostic performance.