Psychological mechanisms of medically unexplained symptoms: an integrative conceptual model

Psychological Bulletin
Richard J Brown

Abstract

Theories of medically unexplained illness based on the concepts of dissociation, conversion, and somatization are summarized. Evidence cited in support of these theories is described and the conceptual strengths and shortcomings of each approach are considered. It is argued that each of these approaches adds to the understanding of unexplained illness but that none is able to provide a comprehensive explanation of the phenomenon. An integrative conceptual model of unexplained illness based on cognitive psychological principles is then presented. This model attempts to combine existing theoretical approaches within a single explanatory framework, extending previous theory by explaining how compelling symptoms can exist in the absence of organic pathology. The clinical and empirical implications of the model are then considered.

References

Feb 1, 1979·The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science·J Bird
Jun 1, 1978·The British Journal of Medical Psychology·I Pilowsky
Oct 1, 1976·Archives of General Psychiatry·F BendefeldtA M Ludwig
Dec 1, 1976·Journal of Communication Disorders·J M Berecz
Dec 1, 1975·The British Journal of Medical Psychology·H Merskey, N A Buhrich
Oct 1, 1992·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·W J Livesley, D N Jackson
Jan 1, 1991·Pediatric Pulmonology·A Greenough, J Pool
Nov 1, 1991·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·L J Kirmayer, J M Robbins
Jan 1, 1990·Psychosomatics·D E Stewart
Mar 1, 1990·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·R Kellner
Nov 1, 1988·The American Journal of Psychiatry·Z J Lipowski
Jan 1, 1988·Journal of Personality Assessment·D A Hope, R G Heimberg
Jan 1, 1988·The American Journal of Psychiatry·E WalkerL R Hickok
Sep 18, 1987·Science·J F Kihlstrom
Jan 1, 1986·Behaviour Research and Therapy·P M Salkovskis, H M Warwick
Oct 1, 1986·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·R GouldD F Benson
Dec 1, 1986·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·E M Bernstein, F W Putnam
Jun 1, 1970·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·G S Whitt, G M Booth
Dec 1, 1972·Archives of General Psychiatry·A M Ludwig
Jan 1, 1973·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·P E Sifneos
Jun 1, 1970·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·J Behrman, R Levy
Oct 1, 1968·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·M Lader, N Sartorius
Sep 1, 1965·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·E T Slater, E Glithero
Aug 15, 1966·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·M RaskinA T Meyerson
Jan 1, 1967·Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica·F A Whitlock
Mar 1, 1980·Perception & Psychophysics·M Coltheart
Mar 1, 1982·Psychophysiology·J W PennebakerJ A Skelton
Oct 1, 1982·Journal of Learning Disabilities·K E Stanovich
Jan 1, 1982·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·S Shipko
Feb 1, 1980·The American Journal of Psychiatry·T HorvathR Meares
Oct 1, 1994·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·M A Ron
Aug 1, 1994·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·M BachD O Nutzinger
Feb 1, 1994·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·K CohenH Brooker
Oct 1, 1993·The American Journal of Psychiatry·E F PriborR D Wetzel
Mar 1, 1993·The American Journal of Psychiatry·E Cardeña, D Spiegel
Jan 1, 1993·International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine·S Taylor, S E Hyler

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 31, 2009·Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology·Nexhmedin MorinaUlrich Stangier
Feb 22, 2012·European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·Terhi LuntamoPatrick J McGrath
Dec 24, 2005·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Andrew L GeersKristin Kosbab
Nov 4, 2010·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Andrew L GeersSuzanne G Helfer
Jul 11, 2006·Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports·Mark Hallett
May 28, 2009·Current Psychiatry Reports·Michael R Clark
Sep 4, 2007·Journal of Personality Assessment·Michael P QuirkBradley Steinfeld
Mar 6, 2010·Psychology & Health·Katleen BogaertsOmer Van den Bergh
Jul 26, 2012·Psychology & Health·Esther E MeermanBart Verkuil
Aug 30, 2012·The Clinical Neuropsychologist·Harald Merckelbach, Thomas Merten
Jun 24, 2008·Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part a·Michael WitthöftJosef Bailer
Dec 2, 2008·Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)·Maria QuinnWarwick Middleton
Jun 15, 2011·Journal of Trauma & Dissociation : the Official Journal of the International Society for the Study of Dissociation (ISSD)·Richard J Brown
Jan 18, 2012·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Laura MiramsDonna M Lloyd
May 30, 2012·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·Mark J EdwardsKarl J Friston
Oct 22, 2008·Chemical Senses·Patricia J BulsingMarcel A Van den Hout
Nov 15, 2011·Journal of Pediatric Psychology·Terhi LuntamoHans Helenius
Jun 3, 2009·European Journal of Neurology : the Official Journal of the European Federation of Neurological Societies·M van BeilenK L Leenders
Nov 1, 2011·PloS One·Marije van BeilenKlaus L Leenders
Mar 19, 2014·Psychoneuroendocrinology·Holger Ursin
May 2, 2013·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Karni GinzburgRuth Defrin
Jan 11, 2013·Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry·Thomas A PollakAnthony S David
Oct 15, 2013·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Katharina VoigtBernd Löwe
Oct 12, 2012·International Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Esther E MeermanBart Verkuil
Feb 12, 2013·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·David SpiegelMatthew Friedman
Mar 3, 2010·Annual Review of Clinical Psychology·Michael Witthöft, Wolfgang Hiller
Aug 7, 2007·Journal of Women's Health·Lotta SameliusKlaas Wijma
Mar 30, 2016·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Margot DarraghNathan S Consedine
Feb 3, 2006·International Review of Psychiatry·Madhulika A Gupta
Feb 11, 2016·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology·Zsuzsanna DömötörFerenc Köteles
Apr 22, 2015·International Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Donja RodicGunther Meinlschmidt
Dec 4, 2014·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Kirsten J McKenzie, Roger Newport
Jan 24, 2016·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Marcella L WoudJürgen Margraf
Dec 4, 2014·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·John F StinsKarin Roelofs
Jun 22, 2015·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Katharina RadziejClaas Lahmann
Apr 4, 2012·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·Esther E MeermanBart Verkuil
Feb 22, 2012·Lancet Neurology·Mark J Edwards, Kailash P Bhatia
Jul 19, 2011·General Hospital Psychiatry·Natalie Steinbrecher, Wolfgang Hiller

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.