Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Epidemiology : prevalence, causes, and consequences / Francis Creed, Arthur Barsky, and Kari Ann Leiknes -- Terminology, classification, and concepts / Peter Henningsen [and others] -- Evidence-based treatment / Francis Creed [and others] -- Current state of management and organisation of care / Per Fink [and others] -- Barriers to improving treatment / Peter Henningsen, Christian Fazekas, and Michael Sharpe -- Gender, lifespan, and cultural aspects / Constanze Hausteiner-Wiehle [and others] -- Medically unexplained symptoms in children and adolescents / Emma Weisblatt, Peter Hindley, and Charlotte Ulrikka Rask -- Identification, assessment, and treatment of individual patients / Francis Creed [and others] -- Training / Per Fink [and others] -- Achieving optimal treatment organisation in different countries : suggestions for service development applicable across different healthcare systems / Francis Creed, Peter Henningsen, and Richard Byng.

Medically unexplained symptoms and somatisation are the fifth most common reason for visits to doctors in the USA, and form one of the most expensive diagnostic categories in Europe. The range of disorders involved includes irritable bowel syndrome, chronic widespread pain and chronic fatigue syndrome. This book reviews the current literature, clarifies and disseminates clear information about the size and scope of the problem, and discusses current and future national and international guidelines. It also identifies barriers to progress and makes evidence-based recommendations for the management of medically unexplained symptoms and somatisation. Written and edited by leading experts in the field, this authoritative text defines international best practice and is an important resource for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, primary care doctors and those responsible for establishing health policy.