Primary care clinicians treat patients with medically unexplained symptoms: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

There is no proven primary care treatment for patients with medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). We hypothesized that a long-term, multidimensional intervention by primary care providers would improve MUS patients' mental health.

Design

Clinical trial.

Setting

HMO in Lansing, MI.

Participants

Patients from 18 to 65 years old with 2 consecutive years of high utilization were identified as having MUS by a reliable chart rating procedure; 206 subjects were randomized and 200 completed the study.

Intervention

From May 2000 to January 2003, 4 primary care clinicians deployed a 12-month intervention consisting of cognitive-behavioral, pharmacological, and other treatment modalities. A behaviorally defined patient-centered method was used by clinicia

SUBMITTER: Smith RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1924714 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature