Understanding and Treating Medically Unexplained Symptoms (MUS)
Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) is a prevalent condition, accounting for around a quarter of GP appointments. MUS is characterised by symptoms of persistent bodily pain and discomfort that medical examinations and investigations cannot trace to any physical problem or other medical condition. Sometimes, MUS symptoms are dismissed as being “made up” or “all in the head” despite the very real pain you experience. Despite the absence of a physical explanation for your physical symptoms, they can often lead to anxiety or depression.
There is a close link between the mind and the body; thus, your mental state affects your physical symptoms regardless of the presence or absence of an underlying physical cause. People struggling with anxiety and depression typically experience aches, pains and fatigue. Conversely, people with physical disorders often struggle with the effects of depression and anxiety.
The link between mental health and physical symptoms
Many people suffering with MUS who experience symptoms such as joint or muscle pain or heart palpitations are commonly found to have underlying mental conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Thus, addressing the symptoms linked to these mental health disorders can be beneficial in alleviating the physical symptoms you are experiencing.
MUS, sometimes called “functional symptoms,” are physical complaints that typically last more than a few weeks and are not associated with a diagnosed physical problem. Not understanding the cause of your symptoms can make you feel distressed and uncertain, influencing your ability to function in your daily life.
After undergoing standard diagnostic procedures such as blood tests, x-rays and scans that yield inconclusive results, and you continue to experience persistent pain, a psychological problem may be the reason for your discomfort.
Signs and Symptoms of MUS
Apart from the absence of a clear physical condition linked to your symptoms, there are several reasons why you may be diagnosed with MUS. It is crucial to recognise that stressful life events, worries, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression can present as physical complaints, even if they initially appear to be solely based in your mind.
Because the mind and the body are intrinsically connected, the early noticeable signs of stress, anxiety or depression are the physical symptoms of these conditions. This explains why you may not be aware that you have anxiety and depression and focus mainly on the physical symptoms, believing they can be attributed to a physical cause.
Some of the physical symptoms that you may experience when you have anxiety, depression or high levels of stress include:
Anxiety
Rapid heartbeat and palpitations, breathlessness, tremors, dry mouth, chest tightness and neck stiffness are some of the associated symptoms of anxiety.- Depression
When you are feeling depressed, your tolerance to physical pain is substantially lowered. Symptoms relating to the mental and emotional side of the condition include extreme sadness and feelings of hopelessness. However, your body can react in the form of physical complaints such as loss of appetite, loss of weight, low energy and general aches and pains. - Stress
Humans have evolved to respond to stress in a way that means we are ready for physical action of some kind. Periods of increased stress, such as following a bereavement, working through money, relationship, or job problems, will cause a physical reaction in your body that means the heightened energy response can cause headaches, muscle tension, feelings of nausea and dizziness, which can make you feel particularly uncomfortable.
Excessive worrying
Researchers have yet to ascertain the precise aetiology of agoraphobia. Nevertheless, it is frequently correlated with panic disorders, which cause short-term bouts of intense anxiety in patients. Approximately a third of panic disorder patients also suffer from agoraphobia, although the condition can also appear on its own.
Excessive worrying is natural, however it can worsen any physical symptoms. You may be more concerned about your physical health than others, leading to an over analysis of your symptoms, which causes them to worsen. The reasons for this may include:
- Friends or family becoming ill, which may lead you to worry that you may get the same illness too
- Having parents who were regularly worried about your health as a child, causing you to develop the habit of seeking help for symptoms, even if there is nothing of urgency to worry about
- History of illness, particularly serious physical illnesses such as cancer, causing you to worry about your symptoms returning, leading to overthinking and interpreting even minor physical complaints as something much more serious
What Causes MUS
Women appear to be more affected by MUS than men, and this may be partly due to women being more inclined to seek help and support for MUS and men only reporting physical symptoms when they have become worse. MUS is prevalent amongst young people. If you had a recent infection, physical illness or are experiencing a stressful life event, you are likely to be diagnosed with MUS. Additionally, if you are currently struggling with anxiety, depression or stress or react extremely to stress, you are also likely to receive a MUS diagnosis.
Symptoms related to these mental conditions and the pressure they put on your mental wellbeing can also present in the form of physical symptoms, with their connection to mental health not always immediately recognised.
Keep your face always towards the sunshine,
and the shadows will fall behind you
Possible Diagnosis for MUS
Although you may be initially diagnosed with MUS, further physical examinations and psychological assessment can ultimately help determine if there are existing physical or mental conditions that are causing your physical complaints.
Physical diagnoses which may be given for MUS include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – chronic stomach complaints
- Fibromyalgia – body pain and muscle tenderness
- Non-epileptic attack disorder – where fits appearing as epilepsy occur without any problems with electrical activity in the brain typically seen in the condition
Mental health diagnoses which may be given for MUS include:
- Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) – where excessive concern about physical aspects of your body cause severe distress and impacts on daily functioning
- Dissociative disorder – physical symptoms such as fits and loss of memory which seem to be caused by problems in your nervous system but are actually brought on by excessive stress
- Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) – a group of psychological disorders where by the physical symptoms are experienced as a result of stress, usually lasting a long time
Treatment for MUS
Experiencing physical symptoms with no diagnosed cause can be very distressing. The pain and lethargy being experienced are just as real and agonising as symptoms from an explained cause. These symptoms usually lead to secondary depression and anxiety, and dismissing them as being “all in your head” is inappropriate and unhelpful.
The treatment options employed by our medical experts are designed to treat the symptoms, any underlying causes and general mental health wellbeing in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Our treatment programmes include the following:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT aims to help you understand and manage your symptoms through the use of problem-solving techniques to explore how your mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, could be influencing your physical complaints. By learning new ways to cope with distress and worry, the physical pain associated with your diagnosis may be reduced.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is employed as a supplementary treatment to CBT to alleviate the symptoms of MUS. It combines elements of CBT and contemporary psychological methods that emphasise the importance of being present in the moment in contrast to fixating on the uncertainties of the future. If you are diagnosed with MUS, you can employ breathing and meditation techniques to empty your mind of negative thoughts which may be causing your preoccupation and health anxiety.
Behavioural activation
Behavioural activation is a targeted approach to planning activities and establishing positive daily routines. A positive frame of mind is believed to boost self-confidence and overall sense of wellbeing, leading to improved symptoms and a proactive approach to dealing with life’s challenges.
Medication
Alongside psychotherapy, medication may be prescribed, particularly if you experience chronic symptoms of depression and anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other antidepressants and anxiolytics can be used to reduce both depression and anxiety.
FREE MUS Assessment
If your or a loved one are struggling with the effects of medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), we understand the challenges you’re facing and we’re here to offer compassionate help.
Our highly trained advisers are available to speak to you right away, simply call 0808 252 3379 today.
We can discuss your concerns in complete confidence, explore the options for treatment, and help you to understand what will work best for you.
We’ll also help you to book your free MUS assessment there and then, with appointments usually available within only a few days.
We understand that taking the first step can be the most difficult, but we’re here to support – with no pressure or judgement.
Professional and compassionate help is just a phone call or click away.
