Symptom presentation, interventions, and outcome of emotionally-distressed patients in primary care.
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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings underline the importance of a specific treatment approach for patients with somatoform symptoms, so as to avoid inappropriate treatment.
Fritzsche
Kurt
K
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. kurt.fritzsche@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Sandholzer
Hagen
H
Wetzler-Burmeister
Edda
E
Hartmann
Armin
A
Cierpka
Manfred
M
Deter
Hans-Christian
HC
Richter
Rainer
R
Schmidt
Bettina
B
Härter
Martin
M
Höger
Christoph
C
Wirsching
Michael
M
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome