Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Question 1

What is the definition of medically unexplained symptoms

Answer 1

Symptoms that appear not to be caused by physical disease
No signs but symptoms
Lack of explanation
There is a disturbance of functon also known as functional disorder

Question 2

Why does medically unexplained symptoms happen

Answer 2

Due to exaggerated stress response

Attentional bias for unpleasant of threatening stimuli

Question 3

When do we think about medically unexplained symptoms

Answer 3

When the patient complains of more than 5 symptoms

Question 4

What can the symptoms be

Answer 4

Part of a recognised syndrome e.g ibs or fibromyalgia

Symptoms that are not explained by pathology

Question 5

How do we manage medically unexplained symptoms

Answer 5

Listen
Acknowledge suffering
Diagnose: functional disorder does not have to be diagnosis of exclusion
Target the investigations
Explain (functional disorder) and support

Question 6

What are the types of treatment we can offer in MUS

Answer 6

Cognitive treatment
Behavioural treatment
Pharmacological: antidepressants, atypical anagelgiscs (gabapentine and pregabalin)