The most popular terms for medically unexplained symptoms: the views of CFS patients

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Federica PicarielloTrudie Chalder

Abstract

Medically unexplained symptoms/syndromes are common, highly distressing and are often associated with profound disability. One of the controversies surrounding this area relates to which umbrella term should be used to group such symptoms. The purpose of this research was to establish the preferences of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for an umbrella term for medically unexplained symptoms. A cross-sectional mixed methods survey design was used. Participants were asked to indicate their three most preferred terms out of a list of commonly used terms and to provide any extra comments. Frequency analysis was employed to look at the preferences of terms for each rank. Comments were analysed using principles of inductive thematic analysis. Eighty-seven patients with CFS completed a self-report survey. The term "Persistent Physical Symptoms" was the most popular first choice term chosen by 20.7% of patients. Terms containing the word "physical" were consistently more likely to be chosen. Three main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: 1) Physical nature of the illness, 2) Stigma, and 3) Evaluation of the terms, giving a more in-depth understanding of the findings. According to CFS patients, an umbrella term has to...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 17, 2015·BMC Family Practice·Anna Budtz-LillyMarianne Rosendal
Jan 8, 2018·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·Peter HenningsenFrancis Creed
Jan 23, 2021·Clinical Medicine : Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of London·Mujtaba Husain, Trudie Chalder
Dec 17, 2020·Journal of Vestibular Research : Equilibrium & Orientation·David HerdmanLouisa Murdin
Apr 10, 2021·Journal of Pain Research·William RaffaeliAntonello Bonci
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Elín BroddadóttirJón Friðrik Sigurðsson

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