Symptom Presentation, Interventions, and Outcome of Emotionally-Distressed Patients in Primary Care

Abstract

Background: Patients with psychosocial problems often present somatic symptoms in primary care. Objective: The authors compare interventions and outcomes of emotionally-distressed patients by presenting physical disease, somatoform symptoms, or psychological symptoms. Method: General practitioners (N = 191) documented data from 1,286 patients with psychosocial problems. Experts rated the presented reasons for encounter. Results: Somatoform symptoms, as well as physical disease, result in patients' receiving physical treatments. Psychologically-oriented treatment is more likely with psychological presentation, but not significantly related to somatoform symptoms. Conclusion: These findings underline the importance of a specific treatment approach for patients with somatoform symptoms, so as to avoid inappropriate treatment. (Psychosomatics 2010; 51: 386-394)