Language
Country/Area
No result found
More Women Than Men? Gender Differences Revealing Medically Unexplained Symptoms
In the medical community, medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) is a vague and challenging topic. According to various studies, the proportion of women suffering from such symptoms is significantly higher than men. This phenomenon has triggered widespread discussion in the scientific community, psychology circles, and the general public.
In some medical situations, doctors may not be able to point to a clear cause, but the patient's pain and the symptoms they express are real.
The MUPS concept is rooted in physical symptoms described by patients that often cannot be explained by the standard methods of current medicine. This includes muscle and bone pain, ear, nose and throat symptoms, and abdominal and gastrointestinal discomfort. It is estimated that up to 30% of primary care consultations may be for such symptoms. These unexplained symptoms cause distress to patients in their daily lives and may increase dissatisfaction and frustration with the medical system.
Gender differences
Further information shows that women are diagnosed with MUPS at a much higher rate than men. Some studies have pointed out that women are more susceptible to psychological factors, which may be one reason why they face more difficulties in health management. Women who have experienced childhood adversity or physical or mental abuse are particularly at risk.
Meaningful childhood experiences or key family adversities have been considered significant risk factors for MUPS, and this applies equally to female patients.
The mental health link
Many people with MUPS also meet diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depression, and these mental health problems are positively correlated with the number of physical symptoms. That is, as the number of symptoms patients reported increased, their likelihood of being diagnosed with anxiety or depression also increased.
Even if a patient has a medically proven disease, it is still possible to be considered MUPS because their symptoms may not be fully explained by their disease diagnosis.
Challenges of the doctor-patient relationship
The existence of MUPS makes relationships between healthcare professionals and patients often challenging in large health systems. Doctors may believe that symptoms are psychological in origin, but patients are convinced that their suffering has a physical cause. For many patients, doctors' statements that symptoms are "not a problem" are unsatisfying and instead inspire a sense of distrust.
Diversity of treatments
Effective treatment for MUPS often requires a combination of therapies, which may include psychotherapy, relaxation therapy, and medically supervised physical therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been found to have positive effects on many medically unexplained symptoms, although conclusive treatment evidence is not yet available for all such symptoms.
What triggers symptoms?
There is still no consensus on the cause of MUPS symptoms. Many scholars believe that MUPS is not only related to psychological factors, but also closely related to each person's personality characteristics. Individuals who are prone to anxiety or are hyper-focused on their body, in particular, are more likely to experience these unexplained symptoms.
Today our scientific research often focuses on different understandings of biological factors and psychological factors, which makes the understanding of MUPS even more complicated.
This medically unexplainable symptom presents significant differences between men and women and raises many questions. Faced with this phenomenon, how can we improve our understanding and treatment of these symptoms?
