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Richard Mayou answers a
few questions about this month's fast breaking paper in
the field of Psychiatry/Psychology.
From
•>>August 2006
Field:
Psychiatry/Psychology
Article Title: Somatoform disorders: Time for a new approach in DSM-V
Authors: Mayou,
R;Kirmayer, LJ;Simon, G;Kroenke, K;Sharpe, M
Journal: AMER J PSYCHIAT
Volume: 162
Issue: 5
Page: 847-855
Year: MAY 2005
* Univ Edinburgh, Royal Edinburgh Hosp, Kennedy Tower, Edinburgh EH10 5HF, Midlothian, Scotland.
* Univ Edinburgh, Sch Mol & Clin Med, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, Midlothian, Scotland.
* Univ Oxford, Warneford Hosp, Dept Psychiat, Oxford, England.
* McGill Univ, Dept Psychiat, Div Social & Transcultural Psychiat, Montreal, PQ, Canada.
* Grp Hlth Cooperat Puget Sound, Ctr Hlth Studies, Seattle, WA 98101 USA.
* Regenstrief Inst Hlth Care, Indianapolis, IN 46202 USA.
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 Why
do you think your paper is highly cited?
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“This paper should help formulate understanding and reduce the confusions which have hindered clinical progress.”
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Because it reviews and attempts to resolve the widely noted
confusion about the nature and treatment of a very large
clinical problem.
Does
it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of
knowledge?
It is based on the extensive clinical and research experience
of the authors together with synthesis of a disparate
literature. It makes new proposals for understanding,
explaining, and classifying medically unexplained symptoms.
Could
you summarize the significance of your paper in layman's terms?
Functional or medically unexplained physical symptoms which
are not explained by pathology are very common and often chronic
and disabling. They are difficult to treat.
The paper argues that there is much evidence for an etiology
which is based on the interaction of bodily perceptions (due to
physiological processes or minor pathology) and psychological,
behavioral, and social processes.
In a proportion of cases there is associated psychiatric
disorder—depression, anxiety, etc. The term "somatoform
disorder" is currently used for those in whom psychological
symptoms are not obvious. The paper argues this large category
is unhelpful and can be dismantled in a way that is acceptable
to patients and helpful in understanding causes and treatment.
How
did you become involved in this research, and were any problems
encountered along the way?
I have had a career-long clinical and research interest in
improving treatment. The main problems have been the lack of
interest and lack of understanding of those who fund research
and also that of service providers.
Are
there any social or political implications for your research?
The size and health costs of the clinical problem are very
large. This paper should help formulate understanding and reduce
the confusions which have hindered clinical progress.
Richard Mayou, M.A., M.Sc., M.Phil., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.Psych.
University of Oxford
Warneford Hospital
Department of Psychiatry
Oxford, UK
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ESI Special Topics,
August 2006
Citing URL - http://www.esi-topics.com/fbp/2006/august06-RichardMayou.html
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