Document Detail


Medically unexplained symptoms: how often and why are they missed?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  10623778     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
We assessed risk factors affecting the provisional diagnosis of medically unexplained symptoms made by physicians in new patients, in 526 clinical encounters. Comparisons were made between the doctor's initial assessments regarding the nature of symptoms, and the final diagnosis. Physicians were more likely to err on the side of diagnosing the symptoms as medically explained rather than unexplained. When physicians perceived the interaction with the patient to be positive, they were more likely to make a provisional diagnosis that the symptoms were explained. Conversely, a negative perception of the interaction was associated with an increased likelihood of viewing symptoms as medically unexplained. Physicians should be aware of the effect of their own perceptions on their diagnostic behaviour.
Authors:
C Nimnuan; M Hotopf; S Wessely
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  QJM : monthly journal of the Association of Physicians     Volume:  93     ISSN:  1460-2725     ISO Abbreviation:  QJM     Publication Date:  2000 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2000-05-11     Completed Date:  2000-05-11     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9438285     Medline TA:  QJM     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  21-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Medicine, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine and Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Clinical Competence / standards
Diagnosis*
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Physician-Patient Relations
Questionnaires
Risk Factors
Sensitivity and Specificity

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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