Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Question 1

What is “Medically Unexplained Symptoms”?

Answer 1

Physical symptoms not explained by organic disease, but nevertheless causes distress and impairs function

Question 2

Define “somatisation”

Answer 2

The physical expression of emotional distress

Question 3

Give four examples of Medically Descriptive Terms

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Give three positive outcomes of Medically Unexplained Symptoms

Answer 4

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

Question 5

What are some of the controversies in MUS?

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Explore the aetiology of MUS

Answer 6

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