Abstract

Abstract

Functional somatic symptoms (FSS) are bodily sensations which do not result from physical disease, but which the patient responds to as if they did. Such symptoms are common and usually transient. In some patients they become persistent and associated with distress and disability. In such cases specific treatment is indicated. A cognitive-behavioural model of the aetiology of FSS and a psychological treatment approach based on the model, are outlined. The practical details of treatment are described.

Abstract

The authors prospectively examined the prevalence of somatization symptoms among community respondents after a natural disaster in Puerto Rico. Exposure to the disaster was related to a higher prevalence of medically unexplained physical symptoms, particularly gastrointestinal ones (abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, excessive gas) and pseudoneurological ones (amnesia, paralysis, fainting, unusual spells/double vision).

Abstract