Psychometric properties of the self-report instrument for somatic symptoms in general hospitals.

To the Editor: Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) and related disorders are especially common in healthcare-seeking populations. A recent meta-analysis revealed the prevalence of somatoform disorders of 34.8% (by International Classification of Diseases) and 26.2% (by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [DSM]) in primary care patients. Further, at least one medically unexplained symptom was detected among 40% to 49% of primary care patients using questionnaires.