title: Persistent (unexplained) physical symptoms: evidence-based highlights.
abstract: Medically unexplained symptoms account for up to 50% of specialist referrals in the NHS, but because they tend to be seen in specialist clinics, health-care staff may not be aware of the variety of presentations and commonalties between different medically unexplained symptoms. This article gives an overview of this field.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer in Health Psychology, Northumbria University.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Deary
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D019468:Disease Management; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D063189:Symptom Assessment