Medically Unexplained Symptoms Flashcards
1
Q
What is “Medically Unexplained Symptoms”?
A
Physical symptoms not explained by organic disease, but nevertheless causes distress and impairs function
2
Q
Define “somatisation”
A
The physical expression of emotional distress
3
Q
Give four examples of Medically Descriptive Terms
A
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Atypical Non Cardiac Chest Pain
4
Q
Give three positive outcomes of Medically Unexplained Symptoms
A
- Reduces stigmatisation of mental illness
- Allows people to assume the sick role
- Physical expression of distress, thus reduces internal emotional conflict
5
Q
What are some of the controversies in MUS?
A
- Affects a heterogenous group with a wide variation in severity and presentation
- Given heterogeneity, likely that different mechanisms play a role in development
- Translates to problematic management at a diagnostic level
6
Q
Explore the aetiology of MUS
A
- Genetic basis is small
- Familial transmission: reinforcement and modelling “emotional currency”
- Cognitive processes involved, i.e. overinterpreting symptoms
- Central pain mechanisms
- Association between abuse and central pain mechanisms