Persistent SOMAtic symptoms ACROSS diseases — from risk factors to modification: scientific framework and overarching protocol of the interdisciplinary SOMACROSS research unit (RU 5211)

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 12; no. 1; p. e057596
• Main Authors: Löwe, Bernd, Andresen, Viola, Van den Bergh, Omer, Huber, Tobias B, von dem Knesebeck, Olaf, Lohse, Ansgar W, Nestoriuc, Yvonne, Schneider, Gudrun, Schneider, Stefan W, Schramm, Christoph, Ständer, Sonja, Vettorazzi, Eik, Zapf, Antonia, Shedden-Mora, Meike, Toussaint, Anne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England British Medical Journal Publishing Group 21.01.2022; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Protocol
• Subjects: adult dermatology; adult psychiatry; chronic renal failure; Coronary vessels; Disease; Etiology; functional bowel disorders; gastroenterology; Germany; hepatology; Humans; Interdisciplinary Research; Medically Unexplained Symptoms; Mental disorders; Mental Health; Pathophysiology; Patients; Prospective Studies; Psychological aspects; Quality of life; Risk Factors; Surgery; Germany; hepatology; adult psychiatry; gastroenterology; adult dermatology; chronic renal failure; functional bowel disorders

IntroductionPersistent somatic symptoms (PSS) are highly prevalent in all areas of medicine; they are disabling for patients and costly for society. The subjective symptom burden often correlates poorly with the underlying disease severity, and patients’ needs for effective treatment are far from be...