title: The most popular terms for medically unexplained symptoms: the views of CFS patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Medically unexplained symptoms/syndromes are common, highly distressing and are often associated with profound disability. One of the controversies surrounding this area relates to which umbrella term should be used to group such symptoms. The purpose of this research was to establish the preferences of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) for an umbrella term for medically unexplained symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional mixed methods survey design was used. Participants were asked to indicate their three most preferred terms out of a list of commonly used terms and to provide any extra comments. Frequency analysis was employed to look at the preferences of terms for each rank. Comments were analysed using principles of inductive thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven patients with CFS completed a self-report survey. The term "Persistent Physical Symptoms" was the most popular first choice term chosen by 20.7% of patients. Terms containing the word "physical" were consistently more likely to be chosen. Three main themes emerged from the thematic analysis: 1) Physical nature of the illness, 2) Stigma, and 3) Evaluation of the terms, giving a more in-depth understanding of the findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to CFS patients, an umbrella term has to reflect the physical experience of MUS.
authors: King's College London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Picariello
authors: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom.
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Ali
authors: King's College London, United Kingdom.
authors: Rona
authors: R
authors: Moss-Morris
authors: King's College London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Trudie.chalder@kcl.ac.uk.
authors: Trudie
authors: T
authors: Chalder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D057566:Self Report; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D009626:Terminology as Topic
keywords: CFS; Diagnosis; Illness perceptions; Labels; MUS; Nomenclature; Stigma; Terminology