Medically unexplained physical symptoms: Difference between revisions

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'''Medically unexplained physical symptoms''' ('''MUPS''' or '''MUS''') or '''Persistent Physical Symptoms''' are symptoms for which the doctor is unable to find a cause, for example unexplained dizziness, pain without a known cause, or unexplained tiredness.<ref name="rcpsych">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/medically-unexplained-symptoms | title = Medically unexplained symptoms|website=RC PSYCH ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref name="NHS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medically-unexplained-symptoms/ | title = Medically unexplained symptoms | date = 2017-10-19 | website = nhs.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref>
'''Medically unexplained physical symptoms''' ('''MUPS''' or '''MUS''') or '''Persistent Physical Symptoms''' are symptoms for which the doctor is unable to find a cause, for example unexplained dizziness, pain without a known cause, or unexplained tiredness.<ref name="rcpsych">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/medically-unexplained-symptoms | title = Medically unexplained symptoms|website=RC PSYCH ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref name="NHS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/medically-unexplained-symptoms/ | title = Medically unexplained symptoms | date = 2017-10-19 | website = nhs.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref>
[[File:ME-CFS-neutological-not-MUS.jpg|alt=M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) is not MUS, and categorising it as such contradicts the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which states that M.E. is a neurological condition."  "A considerable body of published, peer-reviewed evidence, as comprehensively referenced by the 2015 Institute of Medicine report, indicates growing evidence of potential neurological, immunological and endocrinological biomarkers in M.E." - Action for ME|thumb]]
[[File:ME-CFS-neutological-not-MUS.jpg|alt=M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) is not MUS, and categorising it as such contradicts the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which states that M.E. is a neurological condition."  "A considerable body of published, peer-reviewed evidence, as comprehensively referenced by the 2015 Institute of Medicine report, indicates growing evidence of potential neurological, immunological and endocrinological biomarkers in M.E." - Action for ME|thumb]]
Medically unexplained symptoms may be mild, and can resolve within a few weeks without treatment, but some are more persistent.<ref name="NHS" /> In practice, "medically unexplained" may be used to extremely broadly to describe either symptoms of a diagnosis ''not yet fully understood'' by medicine, especially [[ME/CFS]], [[fibromyalgia]] or [[irritable bowel syndrome]], ''or'' symptoms that are not known to be linked to a medical condition, ''or'' symptoms a medical professional judges to be ''out of proportion'' to the related physical cause or illness.<ref name="NHS" /><ref name="Smith2007">{{Cite journal | last = Smith|first = Robert C. | last2 = Dwamena | first2 = Francesca C. | date=2007-05-01 | title = Classification and Diagnosis of Patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0067-2|journal=Journal of General Internal Medicine|language=en|volume=22|issue=5 | pages = 685–691|doi=10.1007/s11606-006-0067-2|issn=1525-1497}}</ref>
Medically unexplained symptoms may be mild, and can resolve within a few weeks without treatment, but some are more persistent.<ref name="NHS" /> In practice, "medically unexplained" may be used to extremely broadly to describe either symptoms of a diagnosis ''not yet fully understood'' by medicine, especially [[ME/CFS]], [[fibromyalgia]] or [[irritable bowel syndrome]], ''or'' symptoms that are not known to be linked to a medical condition, ''or'' symptoms a medical professional judges to be ''out of proportion'' to the related physical cause or illness.<ref name="NHS" /><ref name="Smith2007">{{Cite journal | last = Smith|first = Robert C. | last2 = Dwamena | first2 = Francesca C. | date = 2007-05-01 | title = Classification and Diagnosis of Patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms|url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-006-0067-2|journal=Journal of General Internal Medicine|language=en|volume=22|issue=5 | pages = 685–691|doi=10.1007/s11606-006-0067-2|issn=1525-1497}}</ref>


===Classification and alternative names ===
===Classification and alternative names ===
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*ICD-10-GM used in Germany
*ICD-10-GM used in Germany
*ICD-10-AM adapted by Australia and also used in Ireland
*ICD-10-AM adapted by Australia and also used in Ireland
In some cases, an illness classified as physical by the World Health Organization's ICD-10 is classified psychiatric in an adapted version.<ref name="ChapmanDimmock2018">{{Cite web|url=https://dxrevisionwatch.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/comparison-of-classification-and-terminology-systems-v-3.pdf | title=Comparison of Classification and Terminology Systems | author-link=|first = Suzy | last = Chapman | first2 = Mary | last2 = Dimmock |authorlink2 = Mary Dimmock | date = Jul 2018}}</ref> Country-specific variations of the ICD-11 have not been finalized yet.
In some cases, an illness classified as physical by the World Health Organization's ICD-10 is classified psychiatric in an adapted version.<ref name="ChapmanDimmock2018">{{Cite web|url=https://dxrevisionwatch.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/comparison-of-classification-and-terminology-systems-v-3.pdf | title=Comparison of Classification and Terminology Systems | authorlink = | first = Suzy | last = Chapman | first2 = Mary | last2 = Dimmock | authorlink2 = Mary Dimmock | date = Jul 2018}}</ref> Country-specific variations of the ICD-11 have not been finalized yet.


==MUS review linked to PACE trial==
==MUS review linked to PACE trial==
In the UK there is currently a PROSPERO systematic review of medically unexplained symptoms and their treatments being undertaken by a number of authors including [[Peter White]], first author of the controversial [[PACE trial]] for ME/CFS, into MUS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42015025520 | website = crd.york.ac.uk|access-date=2019-07-10|first = Joanna | last = Leaviss | author-link=Joanna Leaviss | last2 = Glenys Parry | first2 = |authorlink2 = Glenys Parry | last3 = Stevenson | first3=Matt | authorlink3 = Matt Stevenson | last4 = Booth | first4 = Andrew | authorlink4 = Andrew Booth | last5 = Scope | first5 = Alison | authorlink5 = Alison Scope | last6 = Davis | first6 = Sarah  | authorlink6 = Sarah Davis | last7 = Ren | first7 = Shije | authorlink7 = Shije Ren | last8 = Sutton | first8 = Anthea | authorlink8 = Anthea Sutton | last9 = White | first9 = Peter  | authorlink9 = Peter White | last10 = Moss-Morris | first10 = Rona | authorlink10 = Rona Moss-Morris | last11 = Buszewicz | first11 = Marta | authorlink11 = Marta Buszewicz | title = Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS): primary care intervention. PROSPERO 2015 CRD42015025520 | date = 2015}}</ref>
In the UK there is currently a PROSPERO systematic review of medically unexplained symptoms and their treatments being undertaken by a number of authors including [[Peter White]], first author of the controversial [[PACE trial]] for ME/CFS, into MUS.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?ID=CRD42015025520 | website = crd.york.ac.uk|access-date=2019-07-10|first = Joanna | last = Leaviss | authorlink = Joanna Leaviss | last2 = Glenys Parry | first2 = | authorlink2 = Glenys Parry | last3 = Stevenson | first3 = Matt | authorlink3 = Matt Stevenson | last4 = Booth | first4 = Andrew | authorlink4 = Andrew Booth | last5 = Scope | first5 = Alison | authorlink5 = Alison Scope | last6 = Davis | first6 = Sarah  | authorlink6 = Sarah Davis | last7 = Ren | first7 = Shije | authorlink7 = Shije Ren | last8 = Sutton | first8 = Anthea | authorlink8 = Anthea Sutton | last9 = White | first9 = Peter  | authorlink9 = Peter White | last10 = Moss-Morris | first10 = Rona | authorlink10 = Rona Moss-Morris | last11 = Buszewicz | first11 = Marta | authorlink11 = Marta Buszewicz | title = Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS): primary care intervention. PROSPERO 2015 CRD42015025520 | date = 2015}}</ref>


==Somatization and psychologization==
==Somatization and psychologization==
A key assumption often made is that medically unexplained physical symptoms are symptoms which have no physical cause - rather than no ''known'' physical cause, and so are assumed be caused by '''somatization''': the physical expression of emotional distress.<ref name="Smith2007" /> Symptoms, or entire diagnosed illnesses such as ME/CFS or fibromyalgia, are assumed to have no underlying illness process but to have "psychosomatic" symptoms or "psychogenic illness".<ref name="Spotalia2013" />  
A key assumption often made is that medically unexplained physical symptoms are symptoms which have no physical cause - rather than no ''known'' physical cause, and so are assumed be caused by '''somatization''': the physical expression of emotional distress.<ref name="Smith2007" /> Symptoms, or entire diagnosed illnesses such as ME/CFS or fibromyalgia, are assumed to have no underlying illness process but to have "psychosomatic" symptoms or "psychogenic illness".<ref name="Spotalia2013" />  


The MUS approach has been used inappropriately to reclassify diagnosed physical illnesses, including ME/CFS, as a [[mental health]] disorders, which can then result in inappropriate treatment,<ref name="bmj2019" /><ref name="continue">{{Cite web|url=https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/supporting-calls-for-m.e.-to-continue-being-classified-as-neurological/ | title = M.E. must continue to be classified as neurological | last = Action for ME|first = |authorlink=Action for ME | date = 2017 | website = Action for ME|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref><ref name="Williams2014">{{Cite web|url=http://www.margaretwilliams.me/2017/absence-of-evidence.pdf | title=Absence of Evidence | last = Williams | first = Margaret | authorlink=Margaret Williams | date = 2017 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=}}</ref><ref name="Spandler2017" /><ref name="Mihelicova" /> for example medical neglect, and in some severely ill patients, forced psychiatric treatment and forced [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapy]] combined with medical neglect, factors which contributed to the death of [[Sophia Mirza]] from ME/CFS.
The MUS approach has been used inappropriately to reclassify diagnosed physical illnesses, including ME/CFS, as a [[mental health]] disorders, which can then result in inappropriate treatment,<ref name="bmj2019" /><ref name="continue">{{Cite web|url=https://www.actionforme.org.uk/news/supporting-calls-for-m.e.-to-continue-being-classified-as-neurological/ | title = M.E. must continue to be classified as neurological | last = Action for ME|first = | authorlink = Action for ME | date = 2017 | website = Action for ME|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref><ref name="Williams2014">{{Cite web|url=http://www.margaretwilliams.me/2017/absence-of-evidence.pdf | title=Absence of Evidence | last = Williams | first = Margaret | authorlink=Margaret Williams | date = 2017 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=}}</ref><ref name="Spandler2017" /><ref name="Mihelicova" /> for example medical neglect, and in some severely ill patients, forced psychiatric treatment and forced [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapy]] combined with medical neglect, factors which contributed to the death of [[Sophia Mirza]] from ME/CFS.


==Absence of evidence of a physical cause==
==Absence of evidence of a physical cause==
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The classification of physically ill patients as having a mental illness purely on the basis of their psychical symptoms allows for a patient to be '''forcibly treated''' if they are judged to be lacking ''mental capacity'', something which can occur in severe ME due to be severe [[Cognitive dysfunction|cognitive]] and concentration problems, or episodes or [[Speech difficulties|speech loss]] and [[paralysis]] that prevent communication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sophiaandme.org.uk/ | title = Sophia and M.E. | website = sophiaandme.org.uk|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> Despite ME patients not experiencing psychosis or other psychiatric conditions that effect judgement as part of ME, the "mentally ill" label can be, and has been, used to assume patients lack capability for treatment decisions, and to force them into harmful treatments including [[exercise]] or [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapies]].<ref name="Spandler2017" />
The classification of physically ill patients as having a mental illness purely on the basis of their psychical symptoms allows for a patient to be '''forcibly treated''' if they are judged to be lacking ''mental capacity'', something which can occur in severe ME due to be severe [[Cognitive dysfunction|cognitive]] and concentration problems, or episodes or [[Speech difficulties|speech loss]] and [[paralysis]] that prevent communication.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sophiaandme.org.uk/ | title = Sophia and M.E. | website = sophiaandme.org.uk|access-date=2019-07-15}}</ref> Despite ME patients not experiencing psychosis or other psychiatric conditions that effect judgement as part of ME, the "mentally ill" label can be, and has been, used to assume patients lack capability for treatment decisions, and to force them into harmful treatments including [[exercise]] or [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapies]].<ref name="Spandler2017" />


Historically, illnesses that were previously misunderstood or not yet identified were blamed on patients' [[Personality traits and patient attitudes in ME/CFS|personality]], for example William Henry Day's concept of the "migraine personality" in 1878, Diamond and Dalessio (1973) claims that "up to 90% [of those with migraines] have a psychogenic basis for their complaint", patients were labeled as "untrustworthy", "drug-seeking", or as potential malingerers.<ref name="Segal2007">{{Cite journal | last = Segal|first = Judy Z. | authorlinklink= | date = 2007-04-01 | title = Illness as argumentation: a prolegomenon to the rhetorical study of contestable complaints|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459307074695|journal=Health|language=en|volume=11|issue=2|pages=227–244|doi=10.1177/1363459307074695|issn=1363-4593|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Spotalia2013">{{Cite web|url=http://occupyme.net/2013/12/19/my-feedback-to-the-institute-of-medicine/ | title = My feedback to the Institute of Medicine | last= Jennie | first = Spotila|authorlink=Jennie Spotila | date = 2013 | website = occupyme.net|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref> [[Systemic lupus erythematosus|Lupus]], [[multiple sclerosis]], and [[Lyme disease]]  are all examples of illnesses that were previously assumed to have a psychological origin simply because of the "absence of evidence" of a physical cause.<ref name="English2000" /><ref name="Williams2014" />
Historically, illnesses that were previously misunderstood or not yet identified were blamed on patients' [[Personality traits and patient attitudes in ME/CFS|personality]], for example William Henry Day's concept of the "migraine personality" in 1878, Diamond and Dalessio (1973) claims that "up to 90% [of those with migraines] have a psychogenic basis for their complaint", patients were labeled as "untrustworthy", "drug-seeking", or as potential malingerers.<ref name="Segal2007">{{Cite journal | last = Segal|first = Judy Z. | authorlink = | date = 2007-04-01 | title = Illness as argumentation: a prolegomenon to the rhetorical study of contestable complaints|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1363459307074695|journal=Health|language=en|volume=11|issue=2|pages=227–244|doi=10.1177/1363459307074695|issn=1363-4593|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Spotalia2013">{{Cite web|url=http://occupyme.net/2013/12/19/my-feedback-to-the-institute-of-medicine/ | title = My feedback to the Institute of Medicine | last= Jennie | first = Spotila | authorlink=Jennie Spotila | date = 2013 | website = occupyme.net|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref> [[Systemic lupus erythematosus|Lupus]], [[multiple sclerosis]], and [[Lyme disease]]  are all examples of illnesses that were previously assumed to have a psychological origin simply because of the "absence of evidence" of a physical cause.<ref name="English2000" /><ref name="Williams2014" />


English (2000) states that "Absence of evidence may reflect insufficient research, inadequate technology, poor methods, flawed paradigms, closed minds, or lack of clinical experience; for example, in 1980, there was no clear evidence that AIDS was viral—blood products were considered “safe.”"<ref name="English2000">{{Cite journal | last = English|first = T. L. | authorlinklink= | date = Feb 15, 2000 | title = Functional somatic syndromes|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ellen_Goudsmit/publication/12634788_Functional_somatic_syndromes/links/00b49532e9e9d67056000000/Functional-somatic-syndromes.pdf?origin=publication_detail|journal=Annals of Internal Medicine|volume=132|issue=4 | pages = 329|issn=0003-4819|pmid=10681297|via=}}</ref>
English (2000) states that "Absence of evidence may reflect insufficient research, inadequate technology, poor methods, flawed paradigms, closed minds, or lack of clinical experience; for example, in 1980, there was no clear evidence that AIDS was viral—blood products were considered “safe.”"<ref name="English2000">{{Cite journal | last = English|first = T.L. | authorlink = | date = Feb 15, 2000 | title = Functional somatic syndromes|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ellen_Goudsmit/publication/12634788_Functional_somatic_syndromes/links/00b49532e9e9d67056000000/Functional-somatic-syndromes.pdf?origin=publication_detail|journal=Annals of Internal Medicine|volume=132|issue=4 | pages = 329|issn=0003-4819|pmid=10681297|via=}}</ref>


==Risk of harm in ME/CFS patients==
==Risk of harm in ME/CFS patients==
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The whole MUS concept of ''lumping'' different syndromes or illnesses, or groups of symptoms together - all of which are then regarded as "non-diseases" - has been criticized as unscientific and lacking evidence -  especially with wrongly including ME/CFS, which is recognized as a [[neurological disorder|neurological ''disease'']] by the [[World Health Organization]].<ref name="continue" /><ref name="MUSFaults" /><ref name="OLeary2018a" /><ref name="Scott2018" /> In the [[United Kingdom|UK]], the effect of this is that patients regarded as having "MUS conditions" or MUS symptoms are treated under the [[Improving Access to Psychological Therapies]] (IAPT) programme, a [[mental health]]-only approach which does not have the facilities or skills to treat complex and severe physical health problems.{{citation needed}}
The whole MUS concept of ''lumping'' different syndromes or illnesses, or groups of symptoms together - all of which are then regarded as "non-diseases" - has been criticized as unscientific and lacking evidence -  especially with wrongly including ME/CFS, which is recognized as a [[neurological disorder|neurological ''disease'']] by the [[World Health Organization]].<ref name="continue" /><ref name="MUSFaults" /><ref name="OLeary2018a" /><ref name="Scott2018" /> In the [[United Kingdom|UK]], the effect of this is that patients regarded as having "MUS conditions" or MUS symptoms are treated under the [[Improving Access to Psychological Therapies]] (IAPT) programme, a [[mental health]]-only approach which does not have the facilities or skills to treat complex and severe physical health problems.{{citation needed}}
[[File:ME-is-not-MUS.jpg|alt=ME is not Medically Unexplained Symptoms. M.E. is not MUS, and categorising it as such contradicts the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which states that M.E. is a neurological condition. - Action for ME|thumb]]
[[File:ME-is-not-MUS.jpg|alt=ME is not Medically Unexplained Symptoms. M.E. is not MUS, and categorising it as such contradicts the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which states that M.E. is a neurological condition. - Action for ME|thumb]]
The inclusion of [[ME/CFS]] under MUS has been heavily criticized by advocates and patients with ME,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/mus-pps-services-and-iapt-integration-into-nhs-primary-care-whats-happening-across-the-uk.48710/ | title = MUS, PPS services and IAPT integration into NHS primary care - what's happening across the UK?|website=Phoenix Rising ME / CFS Forums|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref> especially in the [[UK]] which is obliged to follow the World Health Organization's classification system - which recognizes ME / CFS / Post-viral syndrome under [[:Category:neurological diseases and disorders|neurological diseases]], and excludes then from other categories.<ref name="MEA201707" /><ref name="Spoonseeker2018Holes" /><ref name="Marks2018" />
The inclusion of [[ME/CFS]] under MUS has been heavily criticized by advocates and patients with ME,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/mus-pps-services-and-iapt-integration-into-nhs-primary-care-whats-happening-across-the-uk.48710/ | title = MUS, PPS services and IAPT integration into NHS primary care - what's happening across the UK? | website = Phoenix Rising ME / CFS Forums|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref> especially in the [[UK]] which is obliged to follow the World Health Organization's classification system - which recognizes ME / CFS / Post-viral syndrome under [[:Category:neurological diseases and disorders|neurological diseases]], and excludes then from other categories.<ref name="MEA201707" /><ref name="Spoonseeker2018Holes" /><ref name="Marks2018" />


An article in ''Positive Health'' stated that MUS will divert funding from the UK's [[mental health]] system by wrongly including [[ME/CFS]].<ref name="Diverting">{{Cite web|url=http://www.positivehealth.com/article/cfs-me/medically-unexplained-symptoms-diverting-5-year-funding-from-mental-health | title = ‘Medically Unexplained Symptoms’ -  Diverting 5-Year Funding from Mental Health | website = positivehealth.com|access-date=2019-07-10}} </ref>
An article in ''Positive Health'' stated that MUS will divert funding from the UK's [[mental health]] system by wrongly including [[ME/CFS]].<ref name="Diverting">{{Cite web|url=http://www.positivehealth.com/article/cfs-me/medically-unexplained-symptoms-diverting-5-year-funding-from-mental-health | title = ‘Medically Unexplained Symptoms’ -  Diverting 5-Year Funding from Mental Health | website = positivehealth.com|access-date=2019-07-10}} </ref>
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The [[Countess of Mar]] has asked questions about the problems of MUS and ME/CFS in the UK parliament's House of Lords.<ref name="MEA201707">{{Cite web|url=https://www.meassociation.org.uk/2017/07/countess-of-mar-and-lord-hunt-defend-mecfs-in-lords-debate-on-medically-unexplained-symptoms-05-july-2018/ | date = Jul 2017 | title = Countess of Mar and Lord Hunt defend ME/CFS in Lords debate on medically unexplained symptoms {{!}} 05 July 2017 | last = The ME Association |language=en-|access-date=2019-07-10}} </ref>
The [[Countess of Mar]] has asked questions about the problems of MUS and ME/CFS in the UK parliament's House of Lords.<ref name="MEA201707">{{Cite web|url=https://www.meassociation.org.uk/2017/07/countess-of-mar-and-lord-hunt-defend-mecfs-in-lords-debate-on-medically-unexplained-symptoms-05-july-2018/ | date = Jul 2017 | title = Countess of Mar and Lord Hunt defend ME/CFS in Lords debate on medically unexplained symptoms {{!}} 05 July 2017 | last = The ME Association |language=en-|access-date=2019-07-10}} </ref>


Dr [[James Coyne]] revealed that [[Peter White]], lead author of the highly controversial [[PACE trial]] and advisor to the UK [[Department for Work and Pensions]], did not disclose his financial interests with health insurers for the PROSPERO review.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-a-systematic-review-protocol-of-interventions-for-medically-unexplained-symptoms/ | date = May 1, 2016 | title = Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms (Protected Blog)|website=jcoynester.wordpress.com|access-date=2019-07-10 | last = Coyne |first = James | authorlink = James Coyne}}</ref>
Dr [[James Coyne]] revealed that [[Peter White]], lead author of the highly controversial [[PACE trial]] and advisor to the UK [[Department for Work and Pensions]], did not disclose his financial interests with health insurers for the PROSPERO review.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jcoynester.wordpress.com/2016/01/05/undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-a-systematic-review-protocol-of-interventions-for-medically-unexplained-symptoms/ | date = May 1, 2016 | title = Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms (Protected Blog)|website=jcoynester.wordpress.com|access-date=2019-07-10 | last = Coyne | first = James | authorlink = James Coyne}}</ref>


Patient advocates have critiqued the basis and motive of the rollout of the MUS concept and treatments in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spoonseeker.com/2018/06/20/a-morass-of-mus/ | title = A Morass of MUS | last = Spoonseeker | first = | date = 2018-06-20 | website = spoonseekerdotcom|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref name="Spoonseeker2018Holes">{{Cite web|url=https://spoonseeker.com/2018/07/29/probing-the-holes-in-mus/ | title = Probing the Holes in MUS | last = Spoonseeker | first = | date = 2018-07-29 | website = spoonseekerdotcom|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>
Patient advocates have critiqued the basis and motive of the rollout of the MUS concept and treatments in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spoonseeker.com/2018/06/20/a-morass-of-mus/ | title = A Morass of MUS | last = Spoonseeker | first = | date = 2018-06-20 | website = spoonseekerdotcom|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref><ref name="Spoonseeker2018Holes">{{Cite web|url=https://spoonseeker.com/2018/07/29/probing-the-holes-in-mus/ | title = Probing the Holes in MUS | last = Spoonseeker | first = | date = 2018-07-29 | website = spoonseekerdotcom|language=en|access-date=2019-07-10}}</ref>
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A highly influential study by Bermingham et al (2008) attempted to calculate the health care costs of patients with MUS, but incorrectly included costs of treating diseases that are not classified as MUS, including [[ME/CFS]], inflating the overall costs.<ref name="Bermingham2008" />  
A highly influential study by Bermingham et al (2008) attempted to calculate the health care costs of patients with MUS, but incorrectly included costs of treating diseases that are not classified as MUS, including [[ME/CFS]], inflating the overall costs.<ref name="Bermingham2008" />  


Further controversy has erupted with the repeated incorrect references to Bermingham et al. which have been published in further reviews and articles by influential journals. [[David Tuller]] PhD, a public health professor at Berkeley has repeatedly highlighted this, contacting [[Carolyn Chew-Graham]] and others who incorrectly cited the paper and the journals that published it to request corrections.<ref name="TullerPayne8July2019">{{Cite web|url=http://www.virology.ws/2019/07/08/trial-by-error-some-thoughts-on-mus-and-bermingham-my-letter-to-professor-payne/ | title = Trial By Error: Some Thoughts on MUS and Bermingham; My Letter to Professor Payne | last = Tuller| first = David | authorlink = David Tuller | date = Jul 8, 2019 | website = [[Virology blog]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref>
Further controversy has erupted with the repeated incorrect references to Bermingham et al. which have been published in further reviews and articles by influential journals. [[David Tuller]] PhD, a public health professor at Berkeley has repeatedly highlighted this, contacting [[Carolyn Chew-Graham]] and others who incorrectly cited the paper and the journals that published it to request corrections.<ref name="TullerPayne8July2019">{{Cite web|url=http://www.virology.ws/2019/07/08/trial-by-error-some-thoughts-on-mus-and-bermingham-my-letter-to-professor-payne/ | title = Trial By Error: Some Thoughts on MUS and Bermingham; My Letter to Professor Payne | last = Tuller | first = David | authorlink = David Tuller | date = Jul 8, 2019 | website = [[Virology blog]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref>


== Medical neglect ==
== Medical neglect ==
Medically unexplained symptoms guidance recommendations includes avoiding doing "unnecessary" diagnostic tests due to the believe in the risk of "iatrogenic harm" and patients may be taught to avoid "[[illness beliefs|symptom focusing]]", leaving people with a physical illness at risk of [[Medical neglect and abuse|medical neglect]] due to the lack of investigation of comorbidities, or failure to correctly diagnose other causes for symptoms or other illnesses, and lack of biomedical treatment.<ref name="Mihelicova">{{Cite journal | last = Mihelicova | first = Martina|author-link=Martina Mihelicova | last2 = Siegel | first2 = Zachary |authorlink2 = Zachary Siegel | last3 = Evans | first3=Meredyth  | authorlink3 = Meredyth Evans | last4 = Brown | first4=Abigail | authorlink4 = Abigail Brown | last5 = Jason | first5 = Leonard | authorlink5 = Leonard Jason | date = Dec 2016 | title = Caring for People with Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Parents’ Experiences|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675701/|journal=Journal of health psychology|volume=21|issue=12|pages=2824–2837|doi=10.1177/1359105315587137|issn=1359-1053|pmc=4675701|pmid=26063209|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Disdain">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeupcallbeweging.be/pdf/30yearsdisdainsummary.pdf | title=THIRTY YEARS OF DISDAIN: How HHS and a group of psychiatrists Buried Myalgic Encephalomyelitis | last = Dimmock|first = Mary |authorlink=Mary Dimmock | last2 = Lazell-Fairman | first2 = Matthew | authorlink2 = Matthew Lazell-Fairman | date = Dec 2015 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=Nov 5, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Geraghtyharm">{{Cite journal | last = Geraghty|first = Keith J. | authorlinklink=Keith Geraghty | last2 = Blease | first2 = Charlotte | authorlink2 = Charlotte Blease | date = 2018-06-21 | title = Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter |url = https://www.tandfonline.com/action/captchaChallenge?redirectUri=%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1080%2F09638288.2018.1481149|journal=Disability and Rehabilitation|language=en|volume=41|issue=25 | pages = 3092-3102|doi=10.1080/09638288.2018.1481149|issn=0963-8288|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Ten-yr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.forward-me.org.uk/Reports/10%20year%20surveillance%20(2017).pdf | title=10 year surveillance report consultation comments {{!}} NICE CFS/ME guidelines | last = Forward-ME|first = |authorlink=Forward-ME | date = 2017 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-10}}</ref>
Medically unexplained symptoms guidance recommendations includes avoiding doing "unnecessary" diagnostic tests due to the believe in the risk of "iatrogenic harm" and patients may be taught to avoid "[[illness beliefs|symptom focusing]]", leaving people with a physical illness at risk of [[Medical neglect and abuse|medical neglect]] due to the lack of investigation of comorbidities, or failure to correctly diagnose other causes for symptoms or other illnesses, and lack of biomedical treatment.<ref name="Mihelicova">{{Cite journal | last = Mihelicova | first = Martina | authorlink = Martina Mihelicova | last2 = Siegel | first2 = Zachary | authorlink2 = Zachary Siegel | last3 = Evans | first3 = Meredyth  | authorlink3 = Meredyth Evans | last4 = Brown | first4 = Abigail | authorlink4 = Abigail Brown | last5 = Jason | first5 = Leonard | authorlink5 = Leonard Jason | date = Dec 2016 | title = Caring for People with Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Parents’ Experiences|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4675701/|journal=Journal of health psychology|volume=21|issue=12|pages=2824–2837|doi=10.1177/1359105315587137|issn=1359-1053|pmc=4675701|pmid=26063209|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Disdain">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wakeupcallbeweging.be/pdf/30yearsdisdainsummary.pdf | title=THIRTY YEARS OF DISDAIN: How HHS and a group of psychiatrists Buried Myalgic Encephalomyelitis | last = Dimmock|first = Mary | authorlink = Mary Dimmock | last2 = Lazell-Fairman | first2 = Matthew | authorlink2 = Matthew Lazell-Fairman | date = Dec 2015 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=Nov 5, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Geraghtyharm">{{Cite journal | last = Geraghty|first = Keith J. | authorlink = Keith Geraghty | last2 = Blease | first2 = Charlotte | authorlink2 = Charlotte Blease | date = 2018-06-21 | title = Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter |url = https://www.tandfonline.com/action/captchaChallenge?redirectUri=%2Fdoi%2Ffull%2F10.1080%2F09638288.2018.1481149|journal=Disability and Rehabilitation|language=en|volume=41|issue=25 | pages = 3092-3102|doi=10.1080/09638288.2018.1481149|issn=0963-8288|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Ten-yr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.forward-me.org.uk/Reports/10%20year%20surveillance%20(2017).pdf | title=10 year surveillance report consultation comments {{!}} NICE CFS/ME guidelines | last = Forward-ME|first = | authorlink = Forward-ME | date = 2017 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-10}}</ref>
{{See also|Medical neglect and abuse}}
{{See also|Medical neglect and abuse}}


==Biopsychosocial model ==
==Biopsychosocial model ==
The [[biopsychosocial model]] (BPS) is usually used to provide treatment for medically unexplained physical symptoms.<ref name="rcpsych" /><ref name="MUSFaults" /> A key part of this model is the use of psychological approaches, often including a form of psychotherapy called [[cognitive behavioral therapy]]. In patients with ME/CFS, patient groups and a number of different authors, have reported that the biopsychosocial approach has led to substantial rates of harm and multiple types of harm have been identified in this patient group.<ref name="Disdain" /><ref name="Geraghtyharm" /><ref name="OxfordBrookesSurvey" /><ref name="OLeary2018b" /> A survey of over 2,000 British patients with ME/CFS was conducted in 2019 to help inform the revision of the [[NHS]] treatment guidelines, and found that the treatment was more harmful then helpful. The survey reported that more than 1 in 5 patients developed new symptoms while undergoing [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] for ME/CFS, 26% said their physical health had deteriorated as a result, with only 16% reporting improved physical health. Alarmingly, 26% found their mental health deteriorated with this psychological approach.<ref name="ForwardMEsurvey">{{Cite web|url = https://www.meassociation.org.uk/2019/04/forward-me-and-oxford-brookes-university-announce-results-of-patient-survey-on-cbt-and-get-in-me-cfs-03-april-2019/| title = Forward-ME and Oxford Brookes University announce results of patient survey on CBT and GET in ME/CFS | last = The ME Association | date = Apr 2019 | authorlink = The ME Association}}</ref><ref name="OxfordBrookesSurvey">{{Cite web|url = https://www.meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/NICE-Patient-Survey-Outcomes-CBT-and-GET-Final-Consolidated-Report-03.04.19.pdf | title =Evaluation of a survey exploring the experiences of adults and children with ME/CFS who have participated in CBT and GET interventional programmes. FINAL REPORT | last = Oxford Clinical Allied Technology and Trials Services Unit (OxCATTS)|location=Oxford Brookes University | date = Feb 27, 2019}}</ref>  
The [[biopsychosocial model]] (BPS) is usually used to provide treatment for medically unexplained physical symptoms.<ref name="rcpsych" /><ref name="MUSFaults" /> A key part of this model is the use of psychological approaches, often including a form of psychotherapy called [[cognitive behavioral therapy]]. In patients with ME/CFS, patient groups and a number of different authors, have reported that the biopsychosocial approach has led to substantial rates of harm and multiple types of harm have been identified in this patient group.<ref name="Disdain" /><ref name="Geraghtyharm" /><ref name="OxfordBrookesSurvey" /><ref name="OLeary2018b" /> A survey of over 2,000 British patients with ME/CFS was conducted in 2019 to help inform the revision of the [[NHS]] treatment guidelines, and found that the treatment was more harmful then helpful. The survey reported that more than 1 in 5 patients developed new symptoms while undergoing [[cognitive behavioral therapy]] for ME/CFS, 26% said their physical health had deteriorated as a result, with only 16% reporting improved physical health. Alarmingly, 26% found their mental health deteriorated with this psychological approach.<ref name="ForwardMEsurvey">{{Cite web|url = https://www.meassociation.org.uk/2019/04/forward-me-and-oxford-brookes-university-announce-results-of-patient-survey-on-cbt-and-get-in-me-cfs-03-april-2019/| title = Forward-ME and Oxford Brookes University announce results of patient survey on CBT and GET in ME/CFS | last = The ME Association | date = Apr 2019 | authorlink = The ME Association}}</ref><ref name="OxfordBrookesSurvey">{{Cite web|url = https://www.meassociation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/NICE-Patient-Survey-Outcomes-CBT-and-GET-Final-Consolidated-Report-03.04.19.pdf | title =Evaluation of a survey exploring the experiences of adults and children with ME/CFS who have participated in CBT and GET interventional programmes. FINAL REPORT | last = Oxford Clinical Allied Technology and Trials Services Unit (OxCATTS)|location=Oxford Brookes University | date = Feb 27, 2019}}</ref>  


The ''[[psychologization]]'' of patients' illness in the absence of psychological symptoms assumes that psychological help must be needed or beneficial in patients with medically unexplained symptoms, despite the fact that an unknown number of patients may have symptoms caused by an undiagnosed medical condition, a medical condition not yet recognized by modern science, or a recognized medical condition like ME/CFS that is not fully understood yet.
The ''[[psychologization]]'' of patients' illness in the absence of psychological symptoms assumes that psychological help must be needed or beneficial in patients with medically unexplained symptoms, despite the fact that an unknown number of patients may have symptoms caused by an undiagnosed medical condition, a medical condition not yet recognized by modern science, or a recognized medical condition like ME/CFS that is not fully understood yet.
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The [[Journal of Health Psychology, Special Issue: The PACE Trial|Journal of Health Psychology]] published [[Michael Scott|Michael Scott's]] ''Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) - The Need for Radical Reform,'' which used the [[PACE trial]] as an example of inflating rates of recovery from psychological treatments, and concluded that the IAPT similarly had little evidence to justify the treatments even for psychological conditions.<ref name="Scott2018">{{Cite journal | last = Scott | first = Michael J | date = 2018-08-01 | title = Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) - The Need for Radical Reform|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318755264|journal=Journal of Health Psychology|language=en|volume=23|issue=9|pages=1136–1147|doi=10.1177/1359105318755264|issn=1359-1053}}</ref>
The [[Journal of Health Psychology, Special Issue: The PACE Trial|Journal of Health Psychology]] published [[Michael Scott|Michael Scott's]] ''Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) - The Need for Radical Reform,'' which used the [[PACE trial]] as an example of inflating rates of recovery from psychological treatments, and concluded that the IAPT similarly had little evidence to justify the treatments even for psychological conditions.<ref name="Scott2018">{{Cite journal | last = Scott | first = Michael J | date = 2018-08-01 | title = Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) - The Need for Radical Reform|url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105318755264|journal=Journal of Health Psychology|language=en|volume=23|issue=9|pages=1136–1147|doi=10.1177/1359105318755264|issn=1359-1053}}</ref>


The editor of the Journal of Health Psychology, Dr [[David Marks]], published the editorial ''IAPT under the microscope'' in July 2018, which concluded "A service based on the promise of savings by taking people off benefits is a political hot potato. There is an urgent need for an independent review of IAPT by impartial experts."<ref name="Marks2018">{{Cite journal | last = Marks | first = David F|author-link=David Marks | date = Aug 2018 | title = IAPT under the microscope|url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105318781872|journal=Journal of Health Psychology|language=en|volume=23|issue=9|pages=1131–1135|doi=10.1177/1359105318781872|issn=1359-1053|quote=|via=}}</ref>
The editor of the Journal of Health Psychology, Dr [[David Marks]], published the editorial ''IAPT under the microscope'' in July 2018, which concluded "A service based on the promise of savings by taking people off benefits is a political hot potato. There is an urgent need for an independent review of IAPT by impartial experts."<ref name="Marks2018">{{Cite journal | last = Marks | first = David F | author-link = David Marks | date = Aug 2018 | title = IAPT under the microscope|url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105318781872|journal=Journal of Health Psychology|language=en|volume=23|issue=9|pages=1131–1135|doi=10.1177/1359105318781872|issn=1359-1053|quote=|via=}}</ref>
==Articles and research critical of CBT for MUS==
==Articles and research critical of CBT for MUS==
*2013, The Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill<ref name="Wolfe2013">{{Cite journal | last = Häuser | first = Winfried | author-link=Winfried Häuser | last2 = Wolfe | first2 = Frederick |authorlink2 = Frederick Wolfe | date = 2013-12-01 | title = The somatic symptom disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399913003450|journal=Journal of Psychosomatic Research|volume=75|issue=6 | pages = 586–587|doi=10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.09.005|issn=0022-3999|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Winfried_Haeuser/publication/259107928_The_Somatic_Symptom_Disorder_in_DSM_5_risks_mislabelling_people_with_major_medical_diseases_as_mentally_ill/links/5b3c67d80f7e9b0df5ec8900/The-Somatic-Symptom-Disorder-in-DSM-5-risks-mislabelling-people-with-major-medical-diseases-as-mentally-ill.pdf (Full text)]
*2013, The Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill<ref name="Wolfe2013">{{Cite journal | last = Häuser | first = Winfried | authorlink = Winfried Häuser | last2 = Wolfe | first2 = Frederick | authorlink2 = Frederick Wolfe | date = 2013-12-01 | title = The somatic symptom disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399913003450|journal=Journal of Psychosomatic Research|volume=75|issue=6 | pages = 586–587|doi=10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.09.005|issn=0022-3999|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Winfried_Haeuser/publication/259107928_The_Somatic_Symptom_Disorder_in_DSM_5_risks_mislabelling_people_with_major_medical_diseases_as_mentally_ill/links/5b3c67d80f7e9b0df5ec8900/The-Somatic-Symptom-Disorder-in-DSM-5-risks-mislabelling-people-with-major-medical-diseases-as-mentally-ill.pdf (Full text)]
* 2017, Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications<ref name="MUSFaults">{{Cite journal | last = Tack|first = Michiel | author-link=Michiel Tack | date = Jan 2019 | title = Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications|url=https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|language=en|volume=16|issue=7|pages=1247|doi=10.3390/ijerph16071247|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247/htm (Full text)]
* 2017, Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications<ref name="MUSFaults">{{Cite journal | last = Tack|first = Michiel | authorlink = Michiel Tack | date = Jan 2019 | title = Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications|url=https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|language=en|volume=16|issue=7|pages=1247|doi=10.3390/ijerph16071247|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247/htm (Full text)]
* 2019, Bodily Distress Syndrome: Concerns About Scientific Credibility in Research and Implementation<ref name="OLeary2018a">{{Cite journal | last = O'Leary|first = D. | authorlink = Diane O'Leary | date = Jun 30, 2018 | title = Bodily distress syndrome: Concerns about scientific credibility in research and implementation | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation|journal=Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry|volume=18|issue=2 | pages = 67–77t|doi=10.4024/07LE18A.jbpc.18.02|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation (Full text)]
* 2019, Bodily Distress Syndrome: Concerns About Scientific Credibility in Research and Implementation<ref name="OLeary2018a">{{Cite journal | last = O'Leary|first = D. | authorlink = Diane O'Leary | date = Jun 30, 2018 | title = Bodily distress syndrome: Concerns about scientific credibility in research and implementation | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation|journal=Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry|volume=18|issue=2 | pages = 67–77t|doi=10.4024/07LE18A.jbpc.18.02|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation (Full text)]
* 2020, Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified<ref name="Scott2020">{{Cite journal | last = Geraghty|first = Keith | authorlink = Keith Geraghty | last2 = Scott | first2 = Michael J.|authorlink2 =  | date = Dec 2020 | title = Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified | url = https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-020-0380-2|journal=BMC Psychology|language=en|volume=8|issue=1|pages=13|doi=10.1186/s40359-020-0380-2|issn=2050-7283|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7001321/ (Full text)]
* 2020, Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified<ref name="Scott2020">{{Cite journal | last = Geraghty|first = Keith | authorlink = Keith Geraghty | last2 = Scott | first2 = Michael J. | authorlink2 =  | date = Dec 2020 | title = Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified | url = https://bmcpsychology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40359-020-0380-2|journal=BMC Psychology|language=en|volume=8|issue=1|pages=13|doi=10.1186/s40359-020-0380-2|issn=2050-7283|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7001321/ (Full text)]
*2020, Ethical Psychotherapeutic Management of Medically Unexplained Symptoms<ref name="Geraghty2020Ch">{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780198817338-e-72 | title = Ethical Psychotherapeutic Management of Patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms: The Risk of Misdiagnosis and Harm | last = O'Leary|first = Diane | authorlink=Diane O'Leary | last2 = Geraghty | first2 = Keith  | authorlink2 = Keith Geraghty | date = 2021-08-27 | website = Oxford Handbook of Psychotherapy Ethics|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.013.72|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2022-01-13}}</ref> - [https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780198817338-e-72 (Abstract, Book Chapter)]
*2020, Ethical Psychotherapeutic Management of Medically Unexplained Symptoms<ref name="Geraghty2020Ch">{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780198817338-e-72 | title = Ethical Psychotherapeutic Management of Patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms: The Risk of Misdiagnosis and Harm | last = O'Leary|first = Diane | authorlink=Diane O'Leary | last2 = Geraghty | first2 = Keith  | authorlink2 = Keith Geraghty | date = 2021-08-27 | website = Oxford Handbook of Psychotherapy Ethics|language=en|doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.013.72|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2022-01-13}}</ref> - [https://www.oxfordhandbooks.com/view/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.001.0001/oxfordhb-9780198817338-e-72 (Abstract, Book Chapter)]
==Articles and research critical of lumping ME/CFS into MUS==
==Articles and research critical of lumping ME/CFS into MUS==
*2013, The Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill<ref name="Wolfe2013">{{Cite journal | last = Häuser | first = Winfried | author-link=Winfried Häuser | last2 = Wolfe | first2 = Frederick |authorlink2 = Frederick Wolfe | date = 2013-12-01 | title = The somatic symptom disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399913003450|journal=Journal of Psychosomatic Research|volume=75|issue=6 | pages = 586–587|doi=10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.09.005|issn=0022-3999|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Winfried_Haeuser/publication/259107928_The_Somatic_Symptom_Disorder_in_DSM_5_risks_mislabelling_people_with_major_medical_diseases_as_mentally_ill/links/5b3c67d80f7e9b0df5ec8900/The-Somatic-Symptom-Disorder-in-DSM-5-risks-mislabelling-people-with-major-medical-diseases-as-mentally-ill.pdf (Full text)]
*2013, The Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill<ref name="Wolfe2013">{{Cite journal | last = Häuser | first = Winfried | authorlink = Winfried Häuser | last2 = Wolfe | first2 = Frederick | authorlink2 = Frederick Wolfe | date = 2013-12-01 | title = The somatic symptom disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill|url=http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022399913003450|journal=Journal of Psychosomatic Research|volume=75|issue=6 | pages = 586–587|doi=10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.09.005|issn=0022-3999|quote=|via=}}</ref> - [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Winfried_Haeuser/publication/259107928_The_Somatic_Symptom_Disorder_in_DSM_5_risks_mislabelling_people_with_major_medical_diseases_as_mentally_ill/links/5b3c67d80f7e9b0df5ec8900/The-Somatic-Symptom-Disorder-in-DSM-5-risks-mislabelling-people-with-major-medical-diseases-as-mentally-ill.pdf (Full text)]
*2017, Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME/CFS<ref name="Spandler2017">{{Cite journal | last = Spandler | first = Helen | author-link=Helen Spandler | last2 = Allen | first2 = Meg | authorlink2 = Meg Allen | date = 2017-08-16 | title = Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME/CFS|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen_Spandler/publication/319157873_Contesting_the_psychiatric_framing_of_MECFS/links/599b082545851574f4ac5ba0/Contesting-the-psychiatric-framing-of-ME-CFS.pdf | journal=Social Theory & Health|language=en|volume=16|issue=2|pages=127–141|doi=10.1057/s41285-017-0047-0|issn=1477-8211|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen_Spandler/publication/319157873_Contesting_the_psychiatric_framing_of_MECFS/links/599b082545851574f4ac5ba0/Contesting-the-psychiatric-framing-of-ME-CFS.pdf (Full text)]
*2017, Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME/CFS<ref name="Spandler2017">{{Cite journal | last = Spandler | first = Helen | authorlink = Helen Spandler | last2 = Allen | first2 = Meg | authorlink2 = Meg Allen | date = 2017-08-16 | title = Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME/CFS|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen_Spandler/publication/319157873_Contesting_the_psychiatric_framing_of_MECFS/links/599b082545851574f4ac5ba0/Contesting-the-psychiatric-framing-of-ME-CFS.pdf | journal=Social Theory & Health|language=en|volume=16|issue=2|pages=127–141|doi=10.1057/s41285-017-0047-0|issn=1477-8211|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen_Spandler/publication/319157873_Contesting_the_psychiatric_framing_of_MECFS/links/599b082545851574f4ac5ba0/Contesting-the-psychiatric-framing-of-ME-CFS.pdf (Full text)]
*2017, Absence of evidence<ref name="Williams2014" /> - focusing on ME/CFS [http://www.margaretwilliams.me/2017/absence-of-evidence.pdf (Full text)]- [[Margaret Williams]]
*2017, Absence of evidence<ref name="Williams2014" /> - focusing on ME/CFS [http://www.margaretwilliams.me/2017/absence-of-evidence.pdf (Full text)]- [[Margaret Williams]]
* 2017, Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications<ref name="MUSFaults">{{Cite journal | last = Tack|first = Michiel | author-link=Michiel Tack | date = Jan 2019 | title = Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications|url=https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|language=en|volume=16|issue=7|pages=1247|doi=10.3390/ijerph16071247|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247/htm (Full text)]
* 2017, Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications<ref name="MUSFaults">{{Cite journal | last = Tack|first = Michiel | authorlink = Michiel Tack | date = Jan 2019 | title = Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications|url=https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247|journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health|language=en|volume=16|issue=7|pages=1247|doi=10.3390/ijerph16071247|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/7/1247/htm (Full text)]
* 2019, Bodily Distress Syndrome: Concerns About Scientific Credibility in Research and Implementation<ref name="OLeary2018a">{{Cite journal | last = O'Leary|first = D. | authorlink = Diane O'Leary | date = Jun 30, 2018 | title = Bodily distress syndrome: Concerns about scientific credibility in research and implementation | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation|journal=Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry|volume=18|issue=2 | pages = 67–77t|doi=10.4024/07LE18A.jbpc.18.02|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation (Full text)]
* 2019, Bodily Distress Syndrome: Concerns About Scientific Credibility in Research and Implementation<ref name="OLeary2018a">{{Cite journal | last = O'Leary|first = D. | authorlink = Diane O'Leary | date = Jun 30, 2018 | title = Bodily distress syndrome: Concerns about scientific credibility in research and implementation | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation|journal=Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry|volume=18|issue=2 | pages = 67–77t|doi=10.4024/07LE18A.jbpc.18.02|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325708039_Bodily_Distress_Syndrome_Concerns_About_Scientific_Credibility_in_Research_and_Implementation (Full text)]
==Articles and research in favor of lumping CFS, IBS or fibromyalgia into MUS==
==Articles and research in favor of lumping CFS, IBS or fibromyalgia into MUS==
*2003, Medically unexplained symptoms: exacerbating factors in the doctor-patient encounter<ref name="Wesselyiatrogenesis">{{Cite journal | last = Page | first = La|author-link= | last2 = Wessely | first2 = S |authorlink2 = Simon Wessely | date = May 2003 | title = Medically Unexplained Symptoms: Exacerbating Factors in the Doctor-Patient Encounter |url = http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/014107680309600505|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine|language=en|volume=96|issue=5|pages=223–227|doi=10.1177/014107680309600505|issn=0141-0768|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/014107680309600505 (Full text)]
*2003, Medically unexplained symptoms: exacerbating factors in the doctor-patient encounter<ref name="Wesselyiatrogenesis">{{Cite journal | last = Page | first = La | authorlink = | last2 = Wessely | first2 = S | authorlink2 = Simon Wessely | date = May 2003 | title = Medically Unexplained Symptoms: Exacerbating Factors in the Doctor-Patient Encounter |url = http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/014107680309600505|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine|language=en|volume=96|issue=5|pages=223–227|doi=10.1177/014107680309600505|issn=0141-0768|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref>[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/014107680309600505 (Full text)]
*2004, There is only one functional somatic syndrome<ref name="WesselyFSS2004">{{Cite journal | last = Wessely|first = Simon | author-link=Simon Wessely | last2 = White | first2 = Peter D. |authorlink2 = Peter White | first8 = | date = Aug 2004 | title = There is only one functional somatic syndrome|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/there-is-only-one-functional-somatic-syndrome/4110CF970D44700E5CD43F4BCEFDE360|journal=The British Journal of Psychiatry|language=en|volume=185|issue=2 | pages = 95–96|doi=10.1192/bjp.185.2.95|issn=0007-1250|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon_Wessely/publication/8424117_There_is_only_one_functional_somatic_syndrome/links/5652eff308aeafc2aabacc90/There-is-only-one-functional-somatic-syndrome.pdf (Full text)]
*2004, There is only one functional somatic syndrome<ref name="WesselyFSS2004">{{Cite journal | last = Wessely|first = Simon | authorlink = Simon Wessely | last2 = White | first2 = Peter D. | authorlink2 = Peter White | first8 = | date = Aug 2004 | title = There is only one functional somatic syndrome|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/there-is-only-one-functional-somatic-syndrome/4110CF970D44700E5CD43F4BCEFDE360|journal=The British Journal of Psychiatry|language=en|volume=185|issue=2 | pages = 95–96|doi=10.1192/bjp.185.2.95|issn=0007-1250|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Simon_Wessely/publication/8424117_There_is_only_one_functional_somatic_syndrome/links/5652eff308aeafc2aabacc90/There-is-only-one-functional-somatic-syndrome.pdf (Full text)]


==Notable studies and articles ==
==Notable studies and articles ==
*2010, The cost of somatisation among the working‐age population in England for the year 2008–2009<ref name="Bermingham2008">{{Cite journal | last = Bermingham|first = Sarah | authorlink = Sarah Bermingham | last2 = Cohen | first2 = Alan | authorlink2 = Alan Cohen | last3 = Hague | first3 = John | authorlink3 = John Hague | last4 = Parsonage | first4=Michael | authorlink4 = Michael Parsonage | date = 2010 | title=The cost of somatisation among the working-age population in England for the year 2008–2009|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22477925|journal=Mental Health in Family Medicine|language=en|volume=7|issue=2 | pages = 71–84|issn=1756-834X|pmid=22477925|quote=|via=}}</ref> [[pubmed:22477925|(Full text)]]
*2010, The cost of somatisation among the working‐age population in England for the year 2008–2009<ref name="Bermingham2008">{{Cite journal | last = Bermingham|first = Sarah | authorlink = Sarah Bermingham | last2 = Cohen | first2 = Alan | authorlink2 = Alan Cohen | last3 = Hague | first3 = John | authorlink3 = John Hague | last4 = Parsonage | first4 = Michael | authorlink4 = Michael Parsonage | date = 2010 | title=The cost of somatisation among the working-age population in England for the year 2008–2009|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22477925|journal=Mental Health in Family Medicine|language=en|volume=7|issue=2 | pages = 71–84|issn=1756-834X|pmid=22477925|quote=|via=}}</ref> [[pubmed:22477925|(Full text)]]
*2015, Managing medically unexplained illness in general practice<ref name="Stone2015">{{Cite web|url=https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/september/managing-medically-unexplained-illness-in-general-practice/ | title = RACGP - Managing medically unexplained illness in general practice | last = The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | website = racgp.org.au|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref> [https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/september/managing-medically-unexplained-illness-in-general-practice/ (Full text)]
*2015, Managing medically unexplained illness in general practice<ref name="Stone2015">{{Cite web|url=https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/september/managing-medically-unexplained-illness-in-general-practice/ | title = RACGP - Managing medically unexplained illness in general practice | last = The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners | website = racgp.org.au|language=en|access-date=2019-07-14}}</ref> [https://www.racgp.org.au/afp/2015/september/managing-medically-unexplained-illness-in-general-practice/ (Full text)]
*2017, “It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight.” Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters<ref name="Lian2017">{{Cite journal | last = Lian | first = Olaug S. | last2 = Robson | first2 = Catherine | date = 2017-01-01 | title = “It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight.” Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219|journal=International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being|volume=12|issue=1|pages=1392219|doi=10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219}}</ref> [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219 (Full text)]
*2017, “It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight.” Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters<ref name="Lian2017">{{Cite journal | last = Lian | first = Olaug S. | last2 = Robson | first2 = Catherine | date = 2017-01-01 | title = “It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight.” Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters|url=https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219|journal=International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being|volume=12|issue=1|pages=1392219|doi=10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219}}</ref> [https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219 (Full text)]
* 2018, Nosological journey of somatoform disorders: From briquet's syndrome to bodily distress disorder<ref name="Desai2018">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2018;volume=34;issue=5;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Desai | title = Nosological journey of somatoform disorders: From briquet's syndrome to bodily distress disorder | last = Desai|first = Geetha | last2 = Sagar | first2 =Rajesh  | authorlink2 = Rajesh Sagar | first3 =Santosh K|last3 =Chaturvedi | authorlink=Geetha Desai | authorlink3 = Santosh Chaturvedi | date = 2018 | pages=29-33|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-15|volume=34|issue=5|journal=Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry}}</ref> [http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2018;volume=34;issue=5;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Desai (Full text)]
* 2018, Nosological journey of somatoform disorders: From briquet's syndrome to bodily distress disorder<ref name="Desai2018">{{Cite journal|url=http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2018;volume=34;issue=5;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Desai | title = Nosological journey of somatoform disorders: From briquet's syndrome to bodily distress disorder | last = Desai|first = Geetha | last2 = Sagar | first2 =Rajesh  | authorlink2 = Rajesh Sagar | first3 =Santosh K | last3 =Chaturvedi | authorlink=Geetha Desai | authorlink3 = Santosh Chaturvedi | date = 2018 | pages=29-33|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-15|volume=34|issue=5|journal=Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry}}</ref> [http://www.indjsp.org/article.asp?issn=0971-9962;year=2018;volume=34;issue=5;spage=29;epage=33;aulast=Desai (Full text)]
* 2018, Why Bioethics Should Be Concerned With Medically Unexplained Symptoms<ref name="OLeary2018b">{{Cite journal | last = O'Leary|first = Diane | author-link=Diane O'Leary |authorlink2 =  | date = May 2018 | title = Why Bioethics Should Be Concerned With Medically Unexplained Symptoms|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diane_Oleary/publication/324785079_Why_Bioethics_Should_Be_Concerned_With_Medically_Unexplained_Symptoms/links/5beb4023a6fdcc3a8dd4674d/Why-Bioethics-Should-Be-Concerned-With-Medically-Unexplained-Symptoms.pdf?origin=publication_detail|journal=The American journal of bioethics: AJOB|volume=18|issue=5 | pages = 6–15|doi=10.1080/15265161.2018.1445312|issn=1536-0075|pmid=29697324|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diane_Oleary/publication/324785079_Why_Bioethics_Should_Be_Concerned_With_Medically_Unexplained_Symptoms/links/5beb4023a6fdcc3a8dd4674d/Why-Bioethics-Should-Be-Concerned-With-Medically-Unexplained-Symptoms.pdf?origin=publication_detail (Full text)]
* 2018, Why Bioethics Should Be Concerned With Medically Unexplained Symptoms<ref name="OLeary2018b">{{Cite journal | last = O'Leary|first = Diane | authorlink = Diane O'Leary | authorlink2 =  | date = May 2018 | title = Why Bioethics Should Be Concerned With Medically Unexplained Symptoms|url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diane_Oleary/publication/324785079_Why_Bioethics_Should_Be_Concerned_With_Medically_Unexplained_Symptoms/links/5beb4023a6fdcc3a8dd4674d/Why-Bioethics-Should-Be-Concerned-With-Medically-Unexplained-Symptoms.pdf?origin=publication_detail|journal=The American journal of bioethics: AJOB|volume=18|issue=5 | pages = 6–15|doi=10.1080/15265161.2018.1445312|issn=1536-0075|pmid=29697324|quote=|via=}}</ref> [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Diane_Oleary/publication/324785079_Why_Bioethics_Should_Be_Concerned_With_Medically_Unexplained_Symptoms/links/5beb4023a6fdcc3a8dd4674d/Why-Bioethics-Should-Be-Concerned-With-Medically-Unexplained-Symptoms.pdf?origin=publication_detail (Full text)]
* [https://25megroup.org/download/2527/ KNOWLEDGE IN THE HOPE OF PROTECTING M.E. SUFFERERS FROM UNNECESSARY SECTIONING]<ref name="PreventUnnecessarySectioning">{{Cite web|url=https://25megroup.org/download/2527/ | title = KNOWLEDGE IN THE HOPE OF PROTECTING M.E. SUFFERERS FROM UNNECESSARY SECTIONING | last2 = 25% ME Group | first2 = |authorlink2 = 25 Percent ME Group | last = The Grace Charity for M.E. | first = |authorlink=The Grace Charity for M.E. | date=Jan 2019 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-12}}</ref> - Preventing the unnecessary forced mental health sectioning of severely ill patients - [[The Grace Charity for M.E.]] with [[25 Percent ME Group |25% ME Group]]
* [https://25megroup.org/download/2527/ KNOWLEDGE IN THE HOPE OF PROTECTING M.E. SUFFERERS FROM UNNECESSARY SECTIONING]<ref name="PreventUnnecessarySectioning">{{Cite web|url=https://25megroup.org/download/2527/ | title = KNOWLEDGE IN THE HOPE OF PROTECTING M.E. SUFFERERS FROM UNNECESSARY SECTIONING | last2 = 25% ME Group | first2 = | authorlink2 = 25 Percent ME Group | last = The Grace Charity for M.E. | first = | authorlink = The Grace Charity for M.E. | date = Jan 2019 | website = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-07-12}}</ref> - Preventing the unnecessary forced mental health sectioning of severely ill patients - [[The Grace Charity for M.E.]] with [[25 Percent ME Group |25% ME Group]]


==Letters, talks and blogs==
==Letters, talks and blogs==

Latest revision as of 13:56, July 25, 2023


Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS or MUS) or Persistent Physical Symptoms are symptoms for which the doctor is unable to find a cause, for example unexplained dizziness, pain without a known cause, or unexplained tiredness.[1][2]

M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) is not MUS, and categorising it as such contradicts the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which states that M.E. is a neurological condition." "A considerable body of published, peer-reviewed evidence, as comprehensively referenced by the 2015 Institute of Medicine report, indicates growing evidence of potential neurological, immunological and endocrinological biomarkers in M.E." - Action for ME

Medically unexplained symptoms may be mild, and can resolve within a few weeks without treatment, but some are more persistent.[2] In practice, "medically unexplained" may be used to extremely broadly to describe either symptoms of a diagnosis not yet fully understood by medicine, especially ME/CFS, fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome, or symptoms that are not known to be linked to a medical condition, or symptoms a medical professional judges to be out of proportion to the related physical cause or illness.[2][3]

Classification and alternative names[edit | edit source]

The following disorders and medical terms are also regarded as 'medically unexplained symptoms" and classified only as purely psychiatric disorders, despite their physical symptoms:

Medically explained physical symptoms and MUPS[edit | edit source]

Some patients diagnosed with MUS or MUPS have a diagnosis of a physical illness recognized by the World Health Organization's ICD-10 classification, or the newer ICD-11 classification that fully explains the physical symptoms; this is because a clinician believes the physical symptoms are disproportionately "distressing to the individual", and the patient has "excessive attention directed toward the symptoms", which does not reduce with reassurances from medical professionals, causing the related psychiatric disorder.[7][6]

Concerns have been raised about the ICD-11's Bodily Distress Disorder, a psychiatric disorders chapter potentially being used for patients with ME/CFS, either before a diagnosis has been reached or after diagnosis.[7] Consulting many different doctors is a behavior described that may be caused by BDD,[7] and the clinician's perception of the severity of the physical symptoms often does not match medical test results in patients with ME/CFS. As a result of significant advocacy work, including proposals by Suzy Chapman, postviral fatigue syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and benign myalgic encephalomyelitis have recently been added as exclusions from Bodily Distress Disorder.[7][6]

Country-specific variations of the ICD[edit | edit source]

The World Health Organization's ICD-10 manual has been adapted by several countries with permission to do so, these adapted versions include:

  • ICD-10-CM used in the United States
  • ICD-10-CA used in Canada
  • ICD-10-GM used in Germany
  • ICD-10-AM adapted by Australia and also used in Ireland

In some cases, an illness classified as physical by the World Health Organization's ICD-10 is classified psychiatric in an adapted version.[8] Country-specific variations of the ICD-11 have not been finalized yet.

MUS review linked to PACE trial[edit | edit source]

In the UK there is currently a PROSPERO systematic review of medically unexplained symptoms and their treatments being undertaken by a number of authors including Peter White, first author of the controversial PACE trial for ME/CFS, into MUS.[9]

Somatization and psychologization[edit | edit source]

A key assumption often made is that medically unexplained physical symptoms are symptoms which have no physical cause - rather than no known physical cause, and so are assumed be caused by somatization: the physical expression of emotional distress.[3] Symptoms, or entire diagnosed illnesses such as ME/CFS or fibromyalgia, are assumed to have no underlying illness process but to have "psychosomatic" symptoms or "psychogenic illness".[10]

The MUS approach has been used inappropriately to reclassify diagnosed physical illnesses, including ME/CFS, as a mental health disorders, which can then result in inappropriate treatment,[11][12][13][14][15] for example medical neglect, and in some severely ill patients, forced psychiatric treatment and forced exercise therapy combined with medical neglect, factors which contributed to the death of Sophia Mirza from ME/CFS.

Absence of evidence of a physical cause[edit | edit source]

Medically unexplained symptoms are often referred to as lacking evidence of any organic pathology (physical cause) - but have been criticized as overly inclusive for including patients with symptoms judged to be out of proportion to the illness or injury; this is problematic because it relies not on medical or psychological tests for MUS but on a doctor's current knowledge of a diagnosed illness or injury, and on medical science's current expectation of particularly severe cases of the each diagnosis.[4]

A patient with a serious medical illness can find themselves also diagnosed with a "medically unexplained physical symptoms" label such as Somatic symptom disorder because of their help-seeking behavior, worry over their health or reporting a disproportionate degree of symptoms.[5] For example, a doctor or psychiatrist assessing a person with very severe ME may be unaware that paralysis, seizures and speech problems can occur,[15] and the illness can, in some cases, kill, so this lack of knowledge may lead to an incorrect diagnosis of MUS, with cognitive or behavioral treatments that may cause significant harm, and a denial of specialist treatment.[16][12][17]

Forced treatment[edit | edit source]

The classification of physically ill patients as having a mental illness purely on the basis of their psychical symptoms allows for a patient to be forcibly treated if they are judged to be lacking mental capacity, something which can occur in severe ME due to be severe cognitive and concentration problems, or episodes or speech loss and paralysis that prevent communication.[18] Despite ME patients not experiencing psychosis or other psychiatric conditions that effect judgement as part of ME, the "mentally ill" label can be, and has been, used to assume patients lack capability for treatment decisions, and to force them into harmful treatments including exercise or exercise therapies.[14]

Historically, illnesses that were previously misunderstood or not yet identified were blamed on patients' personality, for example William Henry Day's concept of the "migraine personality" in 1878, Diamond and Dalessio (1973) claims that "up to 90% [of those with migraines] have a psychogenic basis for their complaint", patients were labeled as "untrustworthy", "drug-seeking", or as potential malingerers.[19][10] Lupus, multiple sclerosis, and Lyme disease are all examples of illnesses that were previously assumed to have a psychological origin simply because of the "absence of evidence" of a physical cause.[20][13]

English (2000) states that "Absence of evidence may reflect insufficient research, inadequate technology, poor methods, flawed paradigms, closed minds, or lack of clinical experience; for example, in 1980, there was no clear evidence that AIDS was viral—blood products were considered “safe.”"[20]

Risk of harm in ME/CFS patients[edit | edit source]

Evidence-based medicine is driven by the effort to minimize medical risk. In the area of ME/CFS, however, it has long been routine for psychosomatic research to proceed as if medical risk can be ignored, as if it simply is not possible that patients with this poorly understood condition are suffering from a biomedical disease.
That oversight can no longer be maintained in credible debate and research.

—Diane O'Leary,  Journal of Medical Ethics blog[11] 2019


Criticism and controversy[edit | edit source]

The whole MUS concept of lumping different syndromes or illnesses, or groups of symptoms together - all of which are then regarded as "non-diseases" - has been criticized as unscientific and lacking evidence - especially with wrongly including ME/CFS, which is recognized as a neurological disease by the World Health Organization.[12][21][22][23] In the UK, the effect of this is that patients regarded as having "MUS conditions" or MUS symptoms are treated under the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme, a mental health-only approach which does not have the facilities or skills to treat complex and severe physical health problems.[citation needed]

ME is not Medically Unexplained Symptoms. M.E. is not MUS, and categorising it as such contradicts the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Diseases, which states that M.E. is a neurological condition. - Action for ME

The inclusion of ME/CFS under MUS has been heavily criticized by advocates and patients with ME,[24] especially in the UK which is obliged to follow the World Health Organization's classification system - which recognizes ME / CFS / Post-viral syndrome under neurological diseases, and excludes then from other categories.[25][26][27]

An article in Positive Health stated that MUS will divert funding from the UK's mental health system by wrongly including ME/CFS.[28]

The Countess of Mar has asked questions about the problems of MUS and ME/CFS in the UK parliament's House of Lords.[25]

Dr James Coyne revealed that Peter White, lead author of the highly controversial PACE trial and advisor to the UK Department for Work and Pensions, did not disclose his financial interests with health insurers for the PROSPERO review.[29]

Patient advocates have critiqued the basis and motive of the rollout of the MUS concept and treatments in the UK.[30][26]

Costs of medically unexplained symptoms[edit | edit source]

A highly influential study by Bermingham et al (2008) attempted to calculate the health care costs of patients with MUS, but incorrectly included costs of treating diseases that are not classified as MUS, including ME/CFS, inflating the overall costs.[31]

Further controversy has erupted with the repeated incorrect references to Bermingham et al. which have been published in further reviews and articles by influential journals. David Tuller PhD, a public health professor at Berkeley has repeatedly highlighted this, contacting Carolyn Chew-Graham and others who incorrectly cited the paper and the journals that published it to request corrections.[32]

Medical neglect[edit | edit source]

Medically unexplained symptoms guidance recommendations includes avoiding doing "unnecessary" diagnostic tests due to the believe in the risk of "iatrogenic harm" and patients may be taught to avoid "symptom focusing", leaving people with a physical illness at risk of medical neglect due to the lack of investigation of comorbidities, or failure to correctly diagnose other causes for symptoms or other illnesses, and lack of biomedical treatment.[15][33][17][34]

Biopsychosocial model[edit | edit source]

The biopsychosocial model (BPS) is usually used to provide treatment for medically unexplained physical symptoms.[1][21] A key part of this model is the use of psychological approaches, often including a form of psychotherapy called cognitive behavioral therapy. In patients with ME/CFS, patient groups and a number of different authors, have reported that the biopsychosocial approach has led to substantial rates of harm and multiple types of harm have been identified in this patient group.[33][17][35][36] A survey of over 2,000 British patients with ME/CFS was conducted in 2019 to help inform the revision of the NHS treatment guidelines, and found that the treatment was more harmful then helpful. The survey reported that more than 1 in 5 patients developed new symptoms while undergoing cognitive behavioral therapy for ME/CFS, 26% said their physical health had deteriorated as a result, with only 16% reporting improved physical health. Alarmingly, 26% found their mental health deteriorated with this psychological approach.[37][35]

The psychologization of patients' illness in the absence of psychological symptoms assumes that psychological help must be needed or beneficial in patients with medically unexplained symptoms, despite the fact that an unknown number of patients may have symptoms caused by an undiagnosed medical condition, a medical condition not yet recognized by modern science, or a recognized medical condition like ME/CFS that is not fully understood yet.

Patient experiences[edit | edit source]

Patients with medically unexplained physical symptoms have described many types of negative medical encounters, including:

  • harmful medical advice or treatment
  • inappropriate psychological explanations) (the psychologization of symptoms)
  • disbelief and disrespectful treatment from doctors and health care professionals
  • marginalization of patients' experiences
  • lack of physical examination and denial of tests or access to specialists that other patients receive
  • failure to investigate new or worsening symptoms
  • increased risk of psychiatric medications bring inappropriately prescribed
  • disregarding patients' knowledge and autonomy
  • the use of the MUS label to challenge the validity of patients' experience and their existing diagnosis of ME/CFS
  • gender bias: female patients are more likely to be diagnosed with medically unexplained physical symptoms[4][38][15][12]

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies[edit | edit source]

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is the treatment arm of the MUS rollout in the UK. It has been accused of diverting millions in mental health care funding to patients without mental illness, and for its lack of effectiveness in patients with MUS.[28]

The Journal of Health Psychology published Michael Scott's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) - The Need for Radical Reform, which used the PACE trial as an example of inflating rates of recovery from psychological treatments, and concluded that the IAPT similarly had little evidence to justify the treatments even for psychological conditions.[23]

The editor of the Journal of Health Psychology, Dr David Marks, published the editorial IAPT under the microscope in July 2018, which concluded "A service based on the promise of savings by taking people off benefits is a political hot potato. There is an urgent need for an independent review of IAPT by impartial experts."[27]

Articles and research critical of CBT for MUS[edit | edit source]

  • 2013, The Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill[5] - (Full text)
  • 2017, Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications[21] (Full text)
  • 2019, Bodily Distress Syndrome: Concerns About Scientific Credibility in Research and Implementation[22] (Full text)
  • 2020, Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified[39] - (Full text)
  • 2020, Ethical Psychotherapeutic Management of Medically Unexplained Symptoms[40] - (Abstract, Book Chapter)

Articles and research critical of lumping ME/CFS into MUS[edit | edit source]

  • 2013, The Somatic Symptom Disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill[5] - (Full text)
  • 2017, Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME/CFS[14] (Full text)
  • 2017, Absence of evidence[13] - focusing on ME/CFS (Full text)- Margaret Williams
  • 2017, Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications[21] (Full text)
  • 2019, Bodily Distress Syndrome: Concerns About Scientific Credibility in Research and Implementation[22] (Full text)

Articles and research in favor of lumping CFS, IBS or fibromyalgia into MUS[edit | edit source]

  • 2003, Medically unexplained symptoms: exacerbating factors in the doctor-patient encounter[41](Full text)
  • 2004, There is only one functional somatic syndrome[42] (Full text)

Notable studies and articles[edit | edit source]

Letters, talks and blogs[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Medically unexplained symptoms". RC PSYCH ROYAL COLLEGE OF PSYCHIATRISTS. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Medically unexplained symptoms". nhs.uk. October 19, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Smith, Robert C.; Dwamena, Francesca C. (May 1, 2007). "Classification and Diagnosis of Patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms". Journal of General Internal Medicine. 22 (5): 685–691. doi:10.1007/s11606-006-0067-2. ISSN 1525-1497.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Desai, Geetha; Sagar, Rajesh; Chaturvedi, Santosh K (2018). "Nosological journey of somatoform disorders: From briquet's syndrome to bodily distress disorder". Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry. 34 (5): 29–33. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Häuser, Winfried; Wolfe, Frederick (December 1, 2013). "The somatic symptom disorder in DSM 5 risks mislabelling people with major medical diseases as mentally ill". Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 75 (6): 586–587. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.09.005. ISSN 0022-3999.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 https://dxrevisionwatch.com/category/bodily-distress-disorder-2/
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 https://icd.who.int/dev11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/767044268
  8. Chapman, Suzy; Dimmock, Mary (July 2018). "Comparison of Classification and Terminology Systems" (PDF).
  9. Leaviss, Joanna; Glenys Parry; Stevenson, Matt; Booth, Andrew; Scope, Alison; Davis, Sarah; Ren, Shije; Sutton, Anthea; White, Peter; Moss-Morris, Rona; Buszewicz, Marta (2015). "Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS): primary care intervention. PROSPERO 2015 CRD42015025520". crd.york.ac.uk. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Jennie, Spotila (2013). "My feedback to the Institute of Medicine". occupyme.net. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 O'Leary, Diane (March 5, 2019). "It's Time to Pay Attention to "Chronic Fatigue Syndrome"". Journal of Medical Ethics. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Action for ME (2017). "M.E. must continue to be classified as neurological". Action for ME. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Williams, Margaret (2017). "Absence of Evidence" (PDF).
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Spandler, Helen; Allen, Meg (August 16, 2017). "Contesting the psychiatric framing of ME/CFS" (PDF). Social Theory & Health. 16 (2): 127–141. doi:10.1057/s41285-017-0047-0. ISSN 1477-8211.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Mihelicova, Martina; Siegel, Zachary; Evans, Meredyth; Brown, Abigail; Jason, Leonard (December 2016). "Caring for People with Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Parents' Experiences". Journal of health psychology. 21 (12): 2824–2837. doi:10.1177/1359105315587137. ISSN 1359-1053. PMC 4675701. PMID 26063209.
  16. "PSYCHIATRISTS PAID BY OUTSIDE INTERESTS". sophiaandme.org.uk. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Geraghty, Keith J.; Blease, Charlotte (June 21, 2018). "Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and the biopsychosocial model: a review of patient harm and distress in the medical encounter". Disability and Rehabilitation. 41 (25): 3092–3102. doi:10.1080/09638288.2018.1481149. ISSN 0963-8288.
  18. "Sophia and M.E." sophiaandme.org.uk. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  19. Segal, Judy Z. (April 1, 2007). "Illness as argumentation: a prolegomenon to the rhetorical study of contestable complaints". Health. 11 (2): 227–244. doi:10.1177/1363459307074695. ISSN 1363-4593.
  20. 20.0 20.1 English, T.L. (February 15, 2000). "Functional somatic syndromes" (PDF). Annals of Internal Medicine. 132 (4): 329. ISSN 0003-4819. PMID 10681297.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 Tack, Michiel (January 2019). "Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS): Faults and Implications". International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 16 (7): 1247. doi:10.3390/ijerph16071247.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 O'Leary, D. (June 30, 2018). "Bodily distress syndrome: Concerns about scientific credibility in research and implementation". Journal of Biological Physics and Chemistry. 18 (2): 67–77t. doi:10.4024/07LE18A.jbpc.18.02.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Scott, Michael J (August 1, 2018). "Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) - The Need for Radical Reform". Journal of Health Psychology. 23 (9): 1136–1147. doi:10.1177/1359105318755264. ISSN 1359-1053.
  24. "MUS, PPS services and IAPT integration into NHS primary care - what's happening across the UK?". Phoenix Rising ME / CFS Forums. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  25. 25.0 25.1 The ME Association (July 2017). "Countess of Mar and Lord Hunt defend ME/CFS in Lords debate on medically unexplained symptoms | 05 July 2017". Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  26. 26.0 26.1 Spoonseeker (July 29, 2018). "Probing the Holes in MUS". spoonseekerdotcom. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  27. 27.0 27.1 Marks, David F (August 2018). "IAPT under the microscope". Journal of Health Psychology. 23 (9): 1131–1135. doi:10.1177/1359105318781872. ISSN 1359-1053.
  28. 28.0 28.1 "'Medically Unexplained Symptoms' - Diverting 5-Year Funding from Mental Health". positivehealth.com. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  29. Coyne, James (May 1, 2016). "Undisclosed conflicts of interest in a systematic review protocol of interventions for medically unexplained symptoms (Protected Blog)". jcoynester.wordpress.com. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  30. Spoonseeker (June 20, 2018). "A Morass of MUS". spoonseekerdotcom. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  31. 31.0 31.1 Bermingham, Sarah; Cohen, Alan; Hague, John; Parsonage, Michael (2010). "The cost of somatisation among the working-age population in England for the year 2008–2009". Mental Health in Family Medicine. 7 (2): 71–84. ISSN 1756-834X. PMID 22477925.
  32. Tuller, David (July 8, 2019). "Trial By Error: Some Thoughts on MUS and Bermingham; My Letter to Professor Payne". Virology blog. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  33. 33.0 33.1 Dimmock, Mary; Lazell-Fairman, Matthew (December 2015). "THIRTY YEARS OF DISDAIN: How HHS and a group of psychiatrists Buried Myalgic Encephalomyelitis" (PDF). Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  34. Forward-ME (2017). "10 year surveillance report consultation comments | NICE CFS/ME guidelines" (PDF). Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  35. 35.0 35.1 Oxford Clinical Allied Technology and Trials Services Unit (OxCATTS) (February 27, 2019). "Evaluation of a survey exploring the experiences of adults and children with ME/CFS who have participated in CBT and GET interventional programmes. FINAL REPORT" (PDF). Oxford Brookes University.
  36. 36.0 36.1 O'Leary, Diane (May 2018). "Why Bioethics Should Be Concerned With Medically Unexplained Symptoms" (PDF). The American journal of bioethics: AJOB. 18 (5): 6–15. doi:10.1080/15265161.2018.1445312. ISSN 1536-0075. PMID 29697324.
  37. The ME Association (April 2019). "Forward-ME and Oxford Brookes University announce results of patient survey on CBT and GET in ME/CFS".
  38. 38.0 38.1 Lian, Olaug S.; Robson, Catherine (January 1, 2017). ""It´s incredible how much I´ve had to fight." Negotiating medical uncertainty in clinical encounters". International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. 12 (1): 1392219. doi:10.1080/17482631.2017.1392219.
  39. Geraghty, Keith; Scott, Michael J. (December 2020). "Treating medically unexplained symptoms via improving access to psychological therapy (IAPT): major limitations identified". BMC Psychology. 8 (1): 13. doi:10.1186/s40359-020-0380-2. ISSN 2050-7283.
  40. O'Leary, Diane; Geraghty, Keith (August 27, 2021). "Ethical Psychotherapeutic Management of Patients with Medically Unexplained Symptoms: The Risk of Misdiagnosis and Harm". Oxford Handbook of Psychotherapy Ethics. doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198817338.013.72. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  41. Page, La; Wessely, S (May 2003). "Medically Unexplained Symptoms: Exacerbating Factors in the Doctor-Patient Encounter". Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 96 (5): 223–227. doi:10.1177/014107680309600505. ISSN 0141-0768.
  42. Wessely, Simon; White, Peter D. (August 2004). "There is only one functional somatic syndrome". The British Journal of Psychiatry. 185 (2): 95–96. doi:10.1192/bjp.185.2.95. ISSN 0007-1250.
  43. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. "RACGP - Managing medically unexplained illness in general practice". racgp.org.au. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  44. The Grace Charity for M.E.; 25% ME Group (January 2019). "KNOWLEDGE IN THE HOPE OF PROTECTING M.E. SUFFERERS FROM UNNECESSARY SECTIONING". Retrieved July 12, 2019.