Efficacy of patient education and duloxetine, alone and in combination, for patients with multisystem functional somatic disorder: Study protocol for the EDULOX trial.

Background: Multisystem functional somatic disorder is characterized by specific patterns of persistent physical symptoms with a complex biopsychosocial etiology. The disorder can lead to disability and personal suffering. Current treatment options require specialized settings, therefore patients often wait a long time to receive specific treatment.

Are study populations in trials of antidepressants and psychotherapy comparable? A retrospective case study of two parallel running trials for multi- organ functional somatic disorder.

This study retrospectively compares two previous parallel running, randomized, controlled trials of pharmacotherapy (imipramine) and psychotherapy (acceptance and commitment therapy) for multi-organ functional somatic disorder (FSD). Differences in demographics, psychiatric comorbidity, illness severity, and illness duration associated with eligibility for the two trials and patients' willingness to participate are explored using linear or binary regression models. 418 patients with multi-organ FSD was included.