Somatization in Primary Care: Patients with Unexplained and Vexing Medical Complaints

Overview

Journal J Gen Intern Med

Publisher Springer

Specialty General Medicine

Date 1988 Mar 1

PMID 3282044

Citations 13

Authors

C Kaplan

M Lipkin Jr

G H Gordon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Somatizing patients experience or express emotional discomfort and psychosocial distress as physical symptoms. Somatization occurs in a broad spectrum of illnesses, in association with a wide variety of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and the somatoform disorders. Primary care providers must detect and treat these patients. Diagnosis is based on positive criteria. Care rests upon conservative medical management and evaluation; a physician-patient relationship based on acceptance, caring, and trust; reinforcement of positive behaviors and elimination of destructive ones; and the gradual use of the relationship to promote healthy relating in the patient.

Citing Articles

A European Research Agenda for Somatic Symptom Disorders, Bodily Distress Disorders, and Functional Disorders: Results of an Estimate-Talk-Estimate Delphi Expert Study.

van der Feltz-Cornelis C, Elfeddali I, Werneke U, Malt U, Van den Bergh O, Schaefert R Front Psychiatry. 2018; 9:151.

PMID: 29867596 PMC: 5961475. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00151.

Potential risk factors of persistent low back pain developing from mild low back pain in urban Japanese workers.

Matsudaira K, Konishi H, Miyoshi K, Isomura T, Inuzuka K PLoS One. 2014; 9(4):e93924.

PMID: 24714616 PMC: 3979726. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0093924.

Functional somatic symptoms: family practice perspective.

Fraser F Can Fam Physician. 2011; 36:1179-84.

PMID: 21233989 PMC: 2280505.

How do physicians respond to patient's requests for costly, unindicated services?.

Gallagher T, Lo B, Chesney M, Christensen K J Gen Intern Med. 1997; 12(11):663-8.

PMID: 9383133 PMC: 1497183. DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.07137.x.

Symptoms of major depression and tricyclic side effects in primary care patients.

Rollman B, Block M, Schulberg H J Gen Intern Med. 1997; 12(5):284-91.

PMID: 9159697 PMC: 1497108. DOI: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.012005284.x.

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