Here's an excerpt from a NY Times article on research on somatization disorder that's kinda cool. Some very ACTy sounding stuff. Thanks to Mary Politi for originally posting this article on the ACT listserv.
for the full article see: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/22/health/22symp.html?ex=1156478400&en=ed906844e55c23fe&ei=5070
Doctors Give Hope to Patients With Long Histories of Unexplained Symptoms By DAN HURLEY
Two new studies by researchers who specialize in the baffling
condition called somatization syndrome, estimated to affect up to 3
percent of adults, suggest that the quest for a physical explanation
may take on a destructive life of its own. Instead, those with the
syndrome should focus on practical strategies to regain normal
function and relieve symptoms, the researchers say.
One study, by German scientists, sought to explain why the doctors'
reassurances were generally ineffective with such patients. The
researchers played taped comments by a doctor about a hypothetical
patient for two groups of participants, people who had the syndrome
and people who did not. Those with somatization syndrome were three
times as likely to believe incorrectly that in the course of the
comments the doctor had said the symptom had a worrisome physical
cause.
The findings, in the August issue of the online journal Public
Library of Science Medicine, offer at least a partial explanation
for why patients often go from doctor to doctor and take test after
test in a fruitless search for answers: repeated reassurances are
simply not being understood.
A second study, by New Jersey researchers, provides the first
published evidence of an effective clinical treatment. The study, in
the July 24 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, found that
patients benefited from 10 sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy
specifically organized to help relieve their stress and increase
emotional awareness and to get them to become more socially active
and think differently about their symptoms.
"They stop their dance classes and don't go to work and don't spend
as much time throwing the ball with their kids," Dr. Allen
said. "Our treatment emphasizes changing their behaviors, trying to
change the focus of their lives from worrying about their symptoms
to re-engaging in activities they've been avoiding."
The 84-patient study, compared the behavior therapy with the
standard treatment.