Non-specific Symptoms As Clues to Changes in Emotional Well-being

Overview

Journal BMC Fam Pract

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Health Services
Public Health

Date 2011 Jul 28

PMID 21791042

Citations 3

Authors

Andre Matalon

Andy Kotliroff

Gari Blumberg

John Yaphe

Eliezer Kitai

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Somatic symptoms are a common reason for visits to the family physician. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between non-specific symptoms and changes in emotional well-being and the degree to which the physician considers the possibility of mental distress when faced with such patients.

Methods: Patients who complained of two or more symptoms including headache, dizziness, fatigue or weakness, palpitations and sleep disorders over one year were identified from the medical records of a random sample of 45 primary care physicians. A control group matched for gender and age was selected from the same population. Emotional well-being was assessed using the MOS-SF 36 in both groups.

Results: The study group and the control group each contained 110 patients. Completed MOS questionnaires were obtained from 92 patients, 48 patients with somatic symptoms and 44 controls. Sixty percent of the patients with somatic symptoms experienced decreased emotional well being compared to 25% in the control group (p = 0.00005). Symptoms of dizziness, fatigue and sleep disturbances were significantly linked with mental health impairments. Primary care physicians identified only 6 of 29 patients (21%) whose responses revealed functional limitations due to emotional problems as suffering from an emotional disorder and only 6 of 23 patients (26%) with a lack of emotional well being were diagnosed with an emotional disorder.

Conclusions: Non-specific somatic symptoms may be clues to changes in emotional well-being. Improved recognition and recording of mental distress among patients who complain of these symptoms may enable better follow up and treatment.

Citing Articles

The association of daily physical symptoms with future health.

Leger K, Charles S, Ayanian J, Almeida D Soc Sci Med. 2015; 143:241-8.

PMID: 26364011 PMC: 4601935. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.08.050.

Emergency Presentations With Nonspecific Complaints-the Burden of Morbidity and the Spectrum of Underlying Disease: Nonspecific Complaints and Underlying Disease.

Karakoumis J, Nickel C, Kirsch M, Rohacek M, Geigy N, Muller B Medicine (Baltimore). 2015; 94(26):e840.

PMID: 26131835 PMC: 4504657. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000000840.

Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in primary care: an observational pilot study of seven generic instruments.

Weenink J, Braspenning J, Wensing M BMC Fam Pract. 2014; 15:88.

PMID: 24884544 PMC: 4029823. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2296-15-88.

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