Living with and caring for somatic symptom disorders: a qualitative interview-study with patients and GPs... 2026 Pohontsch et al

[Andy]

Full title: Living with and caring for somatic symptom disorders: a qualitative interview-study with patients and GPs using a deductive-inductive content analytic approach

Authors: N. J. Pohontsch, M. Lehmann, T. Zimmermann, B. Löwe & M. Scherer

Abstract​

Background​

Persistent physical symptoms are common in general practice and often occur as part of a somatic symptom disorder. Patients suffering from somatic symptom disorders and their general practitioners (GPs) often experience barriers to mutual trust and effective care. Frequently, studies using a one-sided perspective bear mutual accusation about shortcomings of the respective other side. This study examines corresponding perspectives of patients with somatic symptom disorders and their treating GPs to capture their views on individual patient histories and thereby identify barriers to and potentially helpful aspects of communication, detection, care for and live with somatic symptom disorders.

Methods​

Qualitative face-to-face interviews were conducted with dyads of patients with somatic symptom disorders and their treating GPs. The interviews focused on the patients’ medical history as well as barriers and facilitators of management and care in general practice. Patients and their respective GPs were interviewed separately using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using the qualitative content analysis approach described by Mayring.

Results​

We interviewed 15 patient-GP dyads (i.e., 30 interviews). The interviews yielded three general aspects of living with and caring for somatic symptom disorders from the complementing perspectives of patients and their treating GPs: (1) The (undisclosed) patient side (partly invisible to the GP), (2) the shared part of the consultation in general practice, and (3) GPs’ management and care. Patients and GPs alike talked about consultations focusing mainly on communicational and relational aspects. Patients painted a picture of living with somatic symptom disorders, giving details about the relevance of personal situation, relationships, and their work situation for their symptoms and illness management. GPs’ focus lay on coordinating functions, and treatment and management strategies for patients with somatic symptom disorders.

Conclusion​

To establish a trusting relationship between patient and general practitioner, removal of time constraints for consultations and preoccupations for symptom management should allow for better insights of the general practitioners in patients’ lives. If we allow for time to let the patient-doctor relationship grow, mutual trust may ensue.

German clinical trial register​

ID: DRKS00011380, registration date: 1st December 2016.

Open access

 

[Arnie Pye]

To establish a trusting relationship between patient and general practitioner

I must admit I don't trust doctors at all, and that has been true for decades. If they (the GP) assumes I am lying and/or drug-seeking and/or attention-seeking it is noticeable to me how difficult GPs sometimes find it to hide that assumption. Once I realise they don't believe me why would I trust whatever they say?

 

[Chandelier]

ID: DRKS00011380, registration date: 1st December 2016.

Hmm...
Here's the project page:

DFG - GEPRIS

gepris.dfg.de

Google Translate

And here are the published papers listed there:

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2018​

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Coding of medically unexplained symptoms and somatoform disorders by general practitioners - an exploratory focus group study. BMC Fam Pract. 2018;19(1):129 ​

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Pohontsch, N. J.; Zimmermann, T.; Jonas, C.; Lehmann, M.; Löwe, B. & Scherer, M.​

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2018​

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Barriers to diagnosis and treatment of persistent and burdensome somatic symptoms in primary care – Results from qualitative interviews with patients and their general practitioners. EAPM 2018​

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Lehmann M, Pohontsch NJ, Rustige LMD, Kurz K, Zimmermann T, Löwe B, Scherer M​

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2018​

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Barrieren der Diagnose somatoformer Störungen in der Hausarztpraxis – Ergebnisse eines deutschlandweiten repräsentativen Surveys. DKPM/DGPM 2018​

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Lehmann M, Rustige LMD, Pohontsch NJ, Zimmermann T, Kurz K, Scherer M, Löwe B​

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2018​

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Die Kodierung von somatoformen Störungen in Hausarztpraxen – Entwicklung und Ergebnisse eines repräsentativen Surveys (explorative Mixed Methods-Studie). DEGAM 2018 ​

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Pohontsch N, Zimmermann T, Rustige L, Kurz K, Lehmann M, Löwe B, Scherer M​

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2018​

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Herausforderungen im Diagnose- und Behandlungsprozess von anhaltenden, unklaren und belastenden Körperbeschwerden in der Hausarztpraxis aus der Sicht von PatientInnen und ihren HausärztInnen. DKVF 2018 ​

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Pohontsch N, Lehmann M, Rustige L, Kurz K, Zimmermann T, Scherer M, Löwe B​

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2018​

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Hausärztliche Perspektive auf die neue DSM-5 Diagnose der somatischen Belastungsstörung – Qualitative Analyse von Interviewdaten mit Hausärzten und Hausärztinnen. DKPM/DGPM 2018​

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Rustige LMD, Lehmann M, Pohontsch NJ, Zimmermann T, Kurz K, Scherer M, Löwe B​

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2017​

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Diagnostic barriers for somatic symptom disorders in primary care: study protocol for a mixed methods study in Germany. BMJ Open. 2017;7(8):e014157 ​

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Heinbokel, Christina; Lehmann, Marco; Pohontsch, Nadine Janis; Zimmermann, Thomas; Althaus, Astrid; Scherer, Martin & Löwe, Bernd​

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2017​

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Schwierigkeiten bei der Erkennung und Behandlung von Patienten mit somatoformen Störungen – Eine qualitative Fokusgruppen-Studie mit HausärztInnen. DEGAM 2016; Abstractband S. 165​

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Pohontsch N, Zimmermann T, Löwe B, Heinbokel C, Lehmann M, Scherer M​

Interestingly, they seem to continue churning out studies, for example:

Estimated frequency of somatic symptom disorder in general practice: cross-sectional survey with general practitioners, 2022, Lehmann et al.