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Does Excessive Physician Utilisation Prolong the Sick Role in Individuals with Multiple Unexplained Symptoms?

Individuals presenting with somatisation or multiple somatic complaints not related to any demonstrable pathology are frequent attenders at both primary and secondary care levels. Early recognition and effective clinical management are thought to be crucial with this group of individuals, as it is thought that excessive physician-utilisation can prolong the sick role, multiple investigations can promote poorer outcome, and ‘iatrogenic’ factors can lead to medically unexplainable symptoms becoming intractable.