Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

The cognitive behavioural model of medically unexplained symptoms: A theoretical and empirical review

Lookup NU author(s): Vincent Deary

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

The article is a narrative review of the theoretical standing and empirical evidence for the cognitive behavioural model of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) in general and for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in particular. A literature search of Medline and Psychinfo from 1966 to the present day was conducted using MUS and related terms as search terms. All relevant articles were reviewed. The search was then limited in stages, by cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), condition, treatment and type of trial. Evidence was found for genetic, neurological, psychophysiological, immunological, personality, attentional, attributional, affective, behavioural, social and inter-personal factors in the onset and maintenance of MUS. The evidence for the contribution of individual factors, and their autopoietic interaction in MUS (as hypothesised by the cognitive behavioural model) is examined. The evidence from the treatment trials of cognitive behavioural therapy for MUS, CFS and IBS is reviewed as an experimental test of the cognitive behavioural models. We conclude that a broadly conceptualized cognitive behavioural model of MUS suggests a novel and plausible mechanism of symptom generation and has heuristic value. We offer suggestions for further research. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Deary V, Chalder T, Sharpe M

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Clinical Psychology Review

Year: 2007

Volume: 27

Issue: 7

Pages: 781-797

Print publication date: 01/10/2007

ISSN (print): 0272-7358

ISSN (electronic): 1873-7811

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2007.07.002

DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2007.07.002

PubMed id: 17822818


Share