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Front Psychiatry 2018 23;9:626. Epub 2018 Nov 23.

Section of Psychiatry, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.

"Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms" (MUPS) defines a subgroup of patients presenting physical symptoms of unclear origin. The study aims to profile clinical and socio-demographic characteristics of patients with MUPS. This 9-years observational retrospective study assesses all patients admitted between 2008 and 2016 in the divisions of neurology and gastroenterology. Read More

Ind Health 2018 Dec 7. Epub 2018 Dec 7.

Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

This study used health insurance claims data to examine the relationship between the length of sick leave and treatment administered to employees who received middle- to long-term accident and sickness benefits for ≥91 d due to mood disorders, anxiety, and dissociative, stress-related, somatoform and other nonpsychotic mental disorders. Employees who received psychotherapy had significantly shorter leaves of absence over one year compared to those that did not. Treatment with psychotropic drugs was significantly higher among those on leave for ≤365 d than those on leave for ≥366 d. Read More

Behav Med 2018 Dec 11:1-9. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

a Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy , University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf , Hamburg , Germany.

Many primary care patients with high somatic symptom burden do not initiate mental health treatment. Using a cross-sectional design, this study aimed to identify predictors of psychotherapy seeking behavior for patients with high somatic symptom burden within the last 12 months. Data from 20 primary care practices were analyzed. Read More

Neuropsychopharmacol Rep 2018 Dec 11;38(4):167-174. Epub 2018 Aug 11.

Department of Psychiatry, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.

Aim: To explore the characteristics of psychiatric morbidity in chronic pain patients who present with or without fibromyalgia.

Methods: Patients are referred to our chronic pain clinic from primary medical institutions, as we are a secondary medical institution. Although some patients have chronic pain, they have no clear organic disorder such as rheumatoid arthritis to account for the pain. Read More

Clin Neurophysiol 2018 Oct 30;130(1):85-92. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, City, University of London, London, UK. Electronic address:

Objective: We investigated changes in attention mechanisms in people who report a high number of somatic symptoms which cannot be associated with a physical cause.

Method: Based on scores on the Somatoform Disorder Questionnaire (SDQ-20; Nijenhuis et al., 1996) we compared two non-clinical groups, one with high symptoms on the SDQ-20 and a control group with low or no symptoms. Read More

J Psychosom Res 2018 Dec 19;115:125-127. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, The Netherlands; GGZ inGeest Specialized Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address:

Clin Neuropsychol 2018 Nov 22:1-3. Epub 2018 Nov 22.

a VA Puget Sound Healthcare System - American Lake Division , Tacoma , WA , USA.

Psychosom Med 2018 Nov 19. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan Department of Internal Medicine, Providence-Providence Park Hospital, Ascension Health, and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Southfield, Michigan.

Objective: Chronic pain is a significant health problem that is increasing in prevalence, and advances in treatment are needed.

Methods: We briefly review the leading evidence-based psychological therapies for chronic pain-cognitive-behavioral and acceptance / mindfulness-based therapies-and examine several limitations and missing perspectives of these approaches. We review six lesser-known interventions that address these limitations, and we describe our integrative model for psychological assessment and treatment of centralized pain. Read More

PLoS One 2018 15;13(11):e0206440. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to investigate how doctors working in primary health care in Latin American address patients with common mental disorders and to investigate how stigma can affect their clinical decisions.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, we applied an online self-administered questionnaire to a sample of 550 Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) from Bolivia, Brazil, Cuba and Chile. The questionnaire collected information about sociodemographic variables, training and experience with mental health care. Read More

BMC Psychiatry 2018 Nov 12;18(1):361. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: To investigate (a) the diagnostic agreement between diagnoses of somatoform disorders, depressive and anxiety disorders obtained from a structured clinical interview and diagnoses reported from primary care physicians (PCPs) and (b) to identify patient and PCP-related predictors for the diagnostic agreement regarding the presence of a somatoform disorder.

Methods: Data from a cross-sectional study comprising 112 primary care patients at high risk for somatoform disorders were analyzed. Diagnoses according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) for somatoform, depressive and anxiety disorders were obtained from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and compared with the diagnoses of the patients' PCPs documented in their medical records. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2018 Oct 31;15(11). Epub 2018 Oct 31.

Institute for Sex Research and Forensic Psychiatry, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.

Organized and ritual child sexual abuse (ORA) is often rooted in the child's own family. Empirical evidence on possible associations between ORA and trauma-related symptoms in those who report this kind of extreme and prolonged violence is rare. The aim of our study was to explore socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the individuals reporting ORA experiences, and to investigate protective as well as promotive factors in the link between ORA and trauma-related symptom severity. Read More

J Affect Disord 2018 Oct 22;245:98-112. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

School of Medicine, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to update and give an overview of the evidence from published literature that focused on the efficacy of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) in the management of somatoform disorders and medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS).

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out through an electronic search of various databases on randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcome was the severity of somatic symptoms. Read More

BMC Psychiatry 2018 Oct 25;18(1):347. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Medical Psychology, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, Building W26, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: German statutory health insurances are pursuing the goal of improving treatment of chronically ill people by promoting networks of health care providers and supporting treatments that reflect the current medical knowledge. The so-called PNP program is a collaborative care program developed by a German statutory health insurance, which defines specific rules on psychiatric, neurological, psychosomatic, and psychotherapeutic treatment. It aims to strengthen provision of guideline-based outpatient treatment and collaboration between different health care providers. Read More

BMC Psychiatry 2018 Oct 22;18(1):346. Epub 2018 Oct 22.

Altrecht Psychosomatic Medicine, Vrijbaan 2, 3705 WC, Zeist, the Netherlands.

Background: Although body-related problems are common in patients with somatoform disorder, research focusing on how patients with somatoform disorder perceive and evaluate their body is scarce. The present study compared differences in body image between patients with somatoform disorder and respondents from a general population sample. It also examined differences within the somatoform disorder group between men and women and between the diagnostic subgroups conversion disorder, pain disorder and undifferentiated somatoform disorder. Read More

Schmerz 2018 Oct 16. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department Neurology, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Background: One major concern of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is the risk of abuse of prescribed opioids.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and predictors of opioid use-related hospitalizations and potential abuse of prescribed opioids by persons with LTOT for CNCP in a sample representative of the German statutory health insurance companies.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study in 2014. Read More

Curr Treat Options Neurol 2018 Oct 13;20(12):50. Epub 2018 Oct 13.

Dizziness and Vertigo Center Essen and Department of Neurology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.

Purpose Of Review: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) is a newly defined disorder of functional dizziness that in the International Classification of Diseases in its 11th revision (ICD-11) supersedes phobic postural vertigo and chronic subjective dizziness. Despite efforts to unify the diagnosis of functional (somatoform) dizziness, patients will present with a variety of triggers, perpetuating factors, and comorbidities, requiring individualized treatment. This article will review different treatment strategies for this common functional neurological disorder and provide practical recommendations for tailored therapy. Read More

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2018 Oct 11. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Crime Prevention and Correction, Central Police University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Purpose: In Taiwan, few studies explored the morbidity of mental disorders among prisoners. The purpose of this study is conducted to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in Taiwanese prisoners.

Methods: Based on Nationwide population-based databank, 82,650 prisons were studied for mental disorders. Read More

Nurse Educ Today 2018 Dec 29;71:169-173. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

Olcay Çam, Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Nursing, Ege University, İzmir, Turkey.

It is common among health science students to incorrectly believe that they have contracted certain diseases they have recently studied. This can also be seen in the form of health anxiety and investigating health-related information via the internet. Health anxiety, cyberchondria and affecting factors are determined among health science students. Read More

Psychiatr Danub 2018 Sep;30(3):254-272

Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapeutic Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 31, A-8036 Graz, Austria,

Traumata, by definition, refer to exterior events that expose a person to experiences of overwhelming threat and catastrophe and elicit feelings of death anxiety, panic, horror, helplessness, loss of personal control, and intractability. Most affected persons respond with at least some distressing symptoms of trauma-related memory intrusions, autonomic hyperarousal, dissociation, and depression in the acute aftermath. Fortunately, the majority of traumatized individuals succeed in coping with this major stress quite well during the following weeks and months unless the process of recovery is hampered by additional adverse psychosocial circumstances, psychological disposition or biological vulnerability. Read More

Schmerz 2018 Dec;32(6):419-426

Klinik für Neurologie, Technische Universität München, München, Deutschland.

Background: One major concern of long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is the risk of abuse of prescribed opioids.

Objective: To examine the prevalence and predictors of opioid use-related hospitalizations and potential abuse of prescribed opioids by persons with LTOT for CNCP in a sample representative of the German statutory health insurance companies.

Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study in 2014. Read More

Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2018 Nov - Dec;55:20-26. Epub 2018 Aug 10.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany.

Objective: The SSD-12 is a brief self-report questionnaire to measure the psychological criteria of DSM-5 Somatic Symptom Disorder. This study examines its psychometric properties in a German inpatient sample from a psychosomatic rehabilitation setting, and provides evidence to its sensitivity to change.

Method: Patients completed the SSD-12 and the Health49-subscale on somatoform complaints before and after receiving inpatient treatment. Read More

Isr Med Assoc J 2018 Sep;20(9):561-566

Department of Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, affiliated with Hebrew University Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.

Background: There is scant research on the psychopathology of Israeli soldiers who present to a general hospital emergency department (ED).

Objectives: To assess the psychopathology among a cohort of Israeli soldiers who presented to a general hospital ED for mental health assessment.

Methods: The demographic and clinical characteristics of 124 consecutive soldiers who presented to the ED for psychiatric assessment between January 2008 and September 2012 were reviewed. Read More

Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019 Mar 8;89:125-131. Epub 2018 Sep 8.

Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Depression, anxiety and somatoform disorders are all more prevalent in women than in men. However, specific biological mechanisms contributing to such sex differences remain unknown. Serotonergic pathways are involved in mood and behavior regulation and thus have been suggested to be altered in several psychiatric disorders. Read More

J Psychosom Res 2018 Oct 2;113:74-80. Epub 2018 Aug 2.

Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg- Eppendorf, Germany.

Objective: The reconceptualization of somatic symptom and related disorders in DSM-5 led to numerous consequences in terms of prevalence and affected patient populations. The present study aimed to investigate frequencies of ICD-10 somatoform disorders and DSM-5 somatic symptom disorders, and how the respective diagnostic groups differ in terms of sociodemographic and psychopathological characteristics. It discusses the usefulness and reliability of the new diagnostic criteria. Read More

Nervenarzt 2018 Sep 5. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland.

Background: Migration is a risk factor for the onset of mental disorders. Epidemiologic studies indicate that there is an increased prevalence of depressive and somatoform disorders in individuals with a Turkish migration background in Germany.

Objectives: The aim of this review article is to determine the impact of sociocultural factors on depressive and somatoform disorders in individuals with a Turkish migration background in Germany. Read More

Curr Med Mycol 2018 Mar;4(1):6-11

Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.

Background And Purpose: To the best of our knowledge, no information is available regarding the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis in gynecological practices. The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and the drugs prescribed for the treatment of this condition in women followed in gynecological practices in Germany.

Materials And Methods: All the women followed in 262 gynecological practices between November 2014 and October 2016 were included in this study. Read More

J Clin Sleep Med 2018 Sep 15;14(9):1625-1627. Epub 2018 Sep 15.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.

Abstract: The rare constellation of multiple episodes of cataplexy that are refractory to therapy is called . We describe a young adult with known narcolepsy type 1 who reported a marked exacerbation of her symptoms that was initially suspicious for . Neurological evaluation, polysomnography, and additional history revealed that the spells were not consistent with cataplexy, but rather with a somatoform disorder. Read More

PLoS One 2018 30;13(8):e0202546. Epub 2018 Aug 30.

University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Practice and Health Services Research, Heidelberg, Germany.

Background: One significant health policy challenge in many European countries at present is developing strategies to deal with the increase in patient attendance at Out-of-Hours care (OOHC), whether this is at OOHC-Centres in primary care settings or hospital emergency departments (ED). FAs (FAs) presenting in OOHC are a known challenge and previous studies have shown that FAs present more often with psychological problems and psychiatric comorbidities rather than severe physical complaints. FAs may be also contributing to the rising workload in OOHC-Centres in primary care. Read More

Prim Care Companion CNS Disord 2018 Aug 16;20(4). Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Mental Health Service, Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA.

Psychogenic movement disorders (PMDs) are common, associated with significant psychosocial impairments, and frequently comorbid with other physical and psychiatric conditions. However, treatment of PMDs has been largely unsuccessful. Recently, treatments focused on conditions comorbid with PMDs have been hypothesized as a possible improvement to PMD-focused treatments. Read More

Mymensingh Med J 2018 Jul;27(3):520-526

Dr Mohammad Shamsul Ahsan, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dissociative (conversion) disorder (DCR) has a long and controversial history. Some authors wish to classify it with somatoform disorders separate from dissociative disorders; many researchers keep it with DCR. Symptoms pattern also varies in different cultures. Read More

Psychiatr Q 2018 12;89(4):991-1005

Aplysia onlus, GIFT Institute of Integrative Medicine, p.za Cairoli 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy.

Recalling an event impairs an individual's later ability to recall related knowledge. Impairment in this retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) produces a dysfunction in autobiographical memory. This, like somatic symptoms, has been documented in trauma and sexual abuse survivors. Read More

Intern Med J 2018 08;48(8):1012

General Practice, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Psychother Psychosom 2018 17;87(5):316-318. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan.

Psychosomatics 2018 Jul 20. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

University of Milan, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Milan, Italy; Scientific Institute IRCCS "E. Medea", Bosisio Parini (Lc), Italy. Electronic address:

Background: Somatoform Disorders (SD) are a heterogeneous group of psychiatric syndromes characterized by common symptoms, which may mimic a physical condition but they are not explained by a medical condition. Although the biologic nature of this disorder has been widely accepted, the neuroanatomical correlates characterizing SD are still inconclusive. Therefore, this study aims to explore gray matter (GM) volume alterations in SD patients compared to healthy controls and their possible association with clinical and cognitive measures. Read More

Cureus 2018 Jun 1;10(6):e2729. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Psychiatry, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, IND.

Somatoform pain disorders (SPD) are common, disabling and do not respond well to existing treatment modalities. We investigated the usefulness of 18 sessions of high frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation delivered at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in five right-handed patients with SPD. All patients reported significant improvement in pain relief and activities of daily living. Read More

J Trauma Dissociation 2018 Aug 3:1-15. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

a Sciences Cognitives et Sciences Affectives , Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 9193 -SCALAb , Lille , France.

The relationship between childhood trauma and dissociative experiences is widely acknowledged. However, the association between emotion regulation difficulties (ERD), anxiety/depression and dissociation in adolescents and young adults with cumulative maltreatment (CM) remains unclear. The present study examined the role of ERD at both intrapersonal and interpersonal levels and anxiety/depression symptoms in the development of psychoform or somatoform dissociation in adolescents and young adults with CM. Read More

BMC Fam Pract 2018 Jul 27;19(1):129. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

Department of General Practice / Primary Care, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) and somatoform disorders are common in general practices, but there is evidence that general practitioners (GPs) rarely use these codes. Assuming that correct classification and coding of symptoms and diseases are important for adequate management and treatment, insights into these processes could reveal problematic areas and possible solutions. Our study aims at exploring general practitioners' views on coding and reasons for not coding MUS/somatoform disorders. Read More

Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2018 Jul 25. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University Hospital for Psychiatry II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) in an outdoor environment has been shown to exert positive effects on mental well-being beyond those found for PA indoors. The specific effect of an alpine environment has not been investigated so far. Here we evaluate the association of PA in an alpine environment with resilience and quality of life (QOL) in patients with psychosomatic disorders and controls. Read More

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2018 May 4;162. Epub 2018 May 4.

Academisch Medisch Centrum, afd. Neurologie, Amsterdam.

Around 1960, the Dutch clairvoyant Gerard Croiset (1909-1980) was consulted by 'people with symptoms - considered to be unexplained - such as paralysis or neurological disorders'. I searched the archive of the Johan Borgman Fund Foundation for the effect of Croiset's advice and treatment in patients with these symptoms who might have had the diagnosis of conversion disorder. Contrary to my expectations, Croiset treated no patients with conversion disorder. Read More

Semin Hear 2018 Aug 20;39(3):229-242. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Center for Evaluation of Balance Disorders in Children (EFEE), Robert Debré University Hospital, Paris, France.

The purpose of this study was to report the prevalence of vestibular impairment (VI) in children (  = 2,528) referred for complete vestibular testing because of balance disorders (BD) or hearing loss (H). A VI was shown in 51.5% of the children tested (1,304/2,528). Read More

J Neuroimaging 2018 Nov 20;28(6):621-628. Epub 2018 Jul 20.

Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany.

Background And Purpose: Somatoform pain disorder is characterized by chronic pain and various psychological symptoms including increased attention to mental and physical processes. Given that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the default mode network (DMN) and the anterior insula of the salience network are critically involved in intrinsic and attentional processes, we investigated the involvement of these networks during the distraction from physical pain in somatoform pain patients.

Methods: During painful and nonpainful heat stimulation, attentional distraction from physical processes was modulated with a Stroop task. Read More

Psychother Psychosom 2018 19;87(4):236. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.

Psychother Psychosom 2018 18;87(4):234-235. Epub 2018 Jul 18.

Tranzo Department, Tilburg School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Tilburg University, Tilburg, the Netherlands.

Syst Rev 2018 Jul 17;7(1):93. Epub 2018 Jul 17.

Pain Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.

Background: 'Pain rewarded' is a hypothesis wherein acute pain sufferers are exposed to reinforcers and punishers from their environment that shape their behaviour, i.e. pain responses. Read More

Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018 Nov 6;97:69-77. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), The Netherlands.

Background: Specific Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) biomarkers could help improve our understanding of MDD pathophysiology and aid in the refinement of current MDD criteria. While salivary cortisol (SC) can differentiate between healthy controls and patients with psychiatric disorders, salivary alpha amylase (sAA), may be a putative candidate biomarker for MDD specifically.

Methods: In a naturalistic cohort of consecutive out-patients and healthy controls, sAA and SC were determined in 833 participants (97 MDD patients, 142 patients with other mood, anxiety, and/or somatoform (MAS-) disorders, and 594 healthy controls). Read More

Prehosp Disaster Med 2018 Aug 10;33(4):451-453. Epub 2018 Jul 10.

2Emergency Medicine,Istanbul Education and Research Hospital,Istanbul,Turkey.

Conversion disorder is a form of somatoform disorders which has a high prevalence among women, individuals with lower socioeconomic status, under-educated populations, and in developing countries. However, up to one-half of patients who had been initially diagnosed with conversion disorder were eventually shown to have an underlying organic pathology-mostly neurological or non-psychiatric conditions. In this article, two patients are presented who accessed the emergency department (ED) with an initial diagnosis of conversion disorder in the ambulance that turned out to be stroke. Read More

Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2018 21;11:1756284818783600. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Leeds Gastroenterology Institute, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK Leeds Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.

Background: Patients with microscopic colitis (MC) often present with abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and previous data suggest that there may be overlap between MC and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We evaluated the prevalence of IBS-type symptoms in patients with MC, and assess the impact of these symptoms on psychological health and quality of life.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of individuals with a histological diagnosis of MC, collecting demographic data, Rome III IBS-type symptoms, and mood, somatization, and quality of life data. Read More

Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2018 07 5;7:CD011849. Epub 2018 Jul 5.

Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Psychiatry, University of Verona, Piazzale LA Scuro 10, Verona, Italy, 37134.

Background: People living in humanitarian settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are exposed to a constellation of stressors that make them vulnerable to developing mental disorders. Mental disorders with a higher prevalence in these settings include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive, anxiety, somatoform (e.g. Read More

J Ment Health Policy Econ 2018 06;21(2):59-69

Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, Hamburg Center for Health Economics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany,

Background: Somatoform disorders are highly prevalent mental disorders causing impairment and large economic burden. In order to improve the diagnosis and management of affected patients, a health care network for somatoform disorders (Sofu-Net) was implemented in primary care.

Aims Of The Study: The aim of the study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of a stepped, collaborative and coordinated health care network for somatoform and functional disorders (Sofu-Net) compared with regular primary care physician (PCP) practices in German primary care from a societal perspective. Read More