[Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are the most common conditions mentioned when "medically unexplained symptoms" (or syndromes) are mentioned in general]
http://keats.kcl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=28600
I haven't actually looked at this in detail myself but imagine I would get annoyed by it.
http://keats.kcl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=28600
A warm welcome to the IMPARTS study module ‘Mental Health Skills for Non-Mental Health Professionals’. We are delighted that you are joining us on this innovative course designed to improve the mental health skills and confidence of clinicians working in the general hospital setting.
I haven't actually looked at this in detail myself but imagine I would get annoyed by it.
Session Description:
This session provides a framework for recognition, assessment and management of medically unexplained symptoms in general hospital settings and a framework for management of people who frequently attend hospital.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session you should be able to:
Session Introduction:
- Give a working definition of medically unexplained symptoms
- Outline the impact of medically unexplained symptoms on individuals and services.
- Describe common presentations of medically unexplained symptoms, recognising their variability
- Describe the conditions which are commonly associated with medically unexplained symptoms in general hospital patients e.g. depression
- Outline the core steps involved in assessment of MUS
- Describe approaches and strategies for management of patients with MUS
- Outline ethical dilemmas/difficulties in assessment/management of MUS
- Describe the approach to managing patients who frequently attend hospital.
Patients with medically unexplained symptoms represent a significant proportion of people presenting to medical services both in primary and secondary care. Medically unexplained symptoms are encountered in all medical specialties for example non cardiac chest pain in cardiology, fibromyalgia in rheumatology and non-epileptic seizure disorders in neurology.
Medically unexplained symptoms present a diagnostic challenge to medical services and there is a risk of over investigation and iatrogenic harm as a result of unnecessary investigations and procedures. Clinical teams may feel challenged by patients who attend hospital very frequently especially if they do not have diagnosable organic pathology.
MUS may be comorbid with psychiatric disorder including depression and anxiety and this is of often missed or undertreated. Taking a clear and detailed symptom history is very important as is gathering as much information as possible from medical records.
Approaches to management include reassurance, explanation and judicious use of investigations. Treatment of comorbid depression and anxiety is important and specific therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy can be effective in reducing symptoms distress and improving function.
Key Points:
We will be discussing the following paper in the journal club session. Please could you read the paper in advance:
- Impact and importance of MUS in the general hospital setting
- Recognition of MUS – key/common symptoms/presentations
- Assessment of the patient with MUS
- Management of the patient with MUS
- Approach to management of frequent attenders to hospital
Pre-course questionnaireFile
Other session reading materialsFolder
Session Presentations (Power Point files)Folder
Interview with Professor Trudie Chalder - PACE Trial published in the LancetURL
How to Use a Readiness RulerURL
GOAL SETTING for SLEEP ROUTINE from 3 min 45s to 8 min 30sURL
PRACTICAL GOAL SETTING for IMPROVING SYMPTOMS from 15 min 8 sec to 20 min 13sURL
Other session reading materialsFolder
Session Presentations (Power Point files)Folder
Interview with Professor Trudie Chalder - PACE Trial published in the LancetURL
How to Use a Readiness RulerURL
GOAL SETTING for SLEEP ROUTINE from 3 min 45s to 8 min 30sURL
PRACTICAL GOAL SETTING for IMPROVING SYMPTOMS from 15 min 8 sec to 20 min 13sURL
Course EvaluationFile
Post QuestionnaireFile
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