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

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2
Q

Define “somatisation”

A

The physical expression of emotional distress

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3
Q

Give four examples of Medically Descriptive Terms

A

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Atypical Non Cardiac Chest Pain

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4
Q

Give three positive outcomes of Medically Unexplained Symptoms

A
  1. Reduces stigmatisation of mental illness
  2. Allows people to assume the sick role
  3. Physical expression of distress, thus reduces internal emotional conflict
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5
Q

What are some of the controversies in MUS?

A
  1. Affects a heterogenous group with a wide variation in severity and presentation
  2. Given heterogeneity, likely that different mechanisms play a role in development
  3. Translates to problematic management at a diagnostic level
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6
Q

Explore the aetiology of MUS

A
  1. Genetic basis is small
  2. Familial transmission: reinforcement and modelling “emotional currency”
  3. Cognitive processes involved, i.e. overinterpreting symptoms
  4. Central pain mechanisms
  5. Association between abuse and central pain mechanisms
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