Functional somatic symptoms in accident and emergency--An exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the extent and nature of functional somatic symptoms (FSS) in a UK Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department.


METHODS
A mixed method design was used. Data on the number and outcomes of attendances of patients who had attended A&E four or more times in a 6-month period, and who had not received a medical diagnosis were collected. Levels of anxiety and depression were explored and patients were invited to attend an interview with a clinical psychologist.


RESULTS
One hundred frequent attendees made 595 visits to A&E in 6 months, with 20% of visits resulting in a hospital admission. Participants revealed high levels of health anxiety, with over half of participants reporting a perceived link between psychological factors and their experience of symptoms. Over 80% of participants attending the interview wanted further help to manage their symptoms and health care utilisation.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional somatic symptoms are highly distressing for patients and place high demands on health care resources. An alternative care pathway to assess and manage FSS in A&E may need to be developed to help patients to manage their health anxiety.
Theadom
Alice
A
Department of Clinical Health Psychology, Riverside Centre, Hillingdon Hospital, Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3NN, United Kingdom.
Dupont
Simon
S
Byron
Katherine
K
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires