Medically Unexplained Symptoms

This study aims to describe the course of successive care events that follow individuals with somatic symptom disorder until they are assessed by a specialized multidisciplinary team. Data is collected during interviews with subjects aged 12 to 25 years old accompanied by their parents. A biographical grid is used to retrospectively identify all care events that occurred from first symptoms until multidisciplinary assessment. Life events and symptoms are collected as well to explore how history of healthcare consumption is linked to other trajectories. A qualitative analysis of the recorded interviews aims to describe the subjective experience of this healthcare pathway.

Persistent somatic symptoms significantly impair the daily lives of individuals with Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD). Negative psychological factors (NPFs), such as catastrophizing and negative affectivity, further compound this impairment. Yet, few studies have examined strategies in daily life that directly target somatic symptoms and their dynamic relationship with NPFs. The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if an Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI) using music listening and cognitive reappraisal can reduce the intensity of and impairment due to somatic symptoms in 40 individuals with Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), aged 18-65 years. Participants will report symptom intensity, impairment, and NPFs up to four times daily via a smartphone app over a six-week period. Using an intraindividual randomized controlled design, during weeks two to five, participants will be randomly assigned in the ratio of 50:25:25 to no intervention, music listening, and cognitive reappraisal, both at fixed times (evening measurement) and during episodes of acute somatic impairment.

This study aims to evaluate potential correlation of stress as estimated by certain biological markers, namely saliva cortisol, Heart rate variability (HRV), Electromyography (EMG) with musculoskeletal system health status, and assess the impact of a stress management intervention..The intervention group will be trained to apply two evidence based stress management techniques and they will be guided with tips and advice about musculoskeletal health. Impact of the intervention upon measured stress related markers will be assessed.