Depression and anxiety in multisomatoform disorder: prevalence and clinical predictors in primary care.

Objective: Multisomatoform disorder (MSD) is characterised by > or = 3 medically inexplicable, troublesome physical symptoms, together with a > or = 2-year history of somatisation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in a South African sample MSD, and to compare demographic and clinical outcomes in those patients with and without co-morbidity.

Methods: Fifty-one adult outpatients with MSD were recruited from primary care clinics in the Cape Town metropolitan area.

Escitalopram in the treatment of multisomatoform disorder: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Despite the prevalence of multisomatoform disorder (MSD), there are few controlled trials of its pharmacotherapy. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of escitalopram (10-20 mg/day) with that of placebo in treating patients with MSD over a 12-week period. Fifty-one outpatients aged from 18 to 65 years, with multiple medically unexplained symptoms, were recruited.