Psychology: unexplained symptoms Flashcards
what does mus stand for
medically unexplained symptoms
whats does mup stand for a from of mus
medically unexplained physical symptoms
What are Medically Unexplained Physical
Symptoms (MUS)?
can’t be explained by underlying cause
sig stress and func disability
cant be attributed to mental health solely
can occur alone or combined
give some common examples of mus
Common examples of MUS include pain, fatigue, dizziness,
headaches, changes in gut motility, and visual and auditory
disturbances
why is mus terminology an issue for patients
they are often told we cant find nothing wrong and cant offer treatment
patient wants to know what it is rather than what it isnt
what is cfs, ibs, fibromyalgia and why are they relevant to mus
cfs persistent fatigue for 6 months
ibs reccurent abdo pain for 3 months, unsual bowel habits
fibromyalgia, widespread pain index and severity scores not explainable by an underlying disorder
what impact do mups have on nhs
significant cost to nhs, reduced quality of life for patients, strain on beds and appointments and a+e
when healthcare professionals face mups what do they tend to do for patient
➢ unnecessary medical investigations or procedures ➢ perceived over-medicalisation of symptoms > beliefs and attitudes about symptoms ➢ the potential for overprescribing and polypharmacology
what do patients with mups seek when visiting gp is it investigations?
no. ➢Common assumption but many patients with MUPS consult GPs
seeking emotional support, explanations and re-assurance and some
have already considered psychological factors associated with their
symptoms
how do you reduce costs and improve mups outcomes
Building shared understanding ➢Training ➢Awareness ➢Formulation ➢Practical skill development ➢Training materials ➢IAPT MUS/ Functional Symptoms Positive Practice Guide guidance- LINK ➢MUS Long Term Conditions toolkit Scotland- LINK
what are predisposing or risk factors for mups
Pre-morbid personality / genetics, distress, early life events, lower fitness, long term conditions, mood dissorders
according to cognitive behavioural model of mups name precipitating factors that act as triggers
Injury or infection
and stress
(trigger
name predisposing factors for mups (cognitive behavioral model)
Pre-morbid personality / genetics, distress, early life events
name perpetuating factors for mups
physiology, cognition,emotion behaviour
what does pps stand for
Persistent Physical Symptoms
