title: Caring for the patient with multiple somatic complaints.
abstract: Patients with multiple somatic complaints but little disease are commonly seen in most medical practices. Their behavior can be understood by considering the contribution of psychologic, perceptual, and social factors in the etiology and maintenance of the illness complaint. Because these patients cling to their symptoms, care rather than cure is the cornerstone of management. Recommendations for patient care are based on a multifactorial model of symptom etiology. The doctor-patient relationship is central to therapy.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010465:Perception; D010551:Personality; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*