| Medically unexplained physical symptoms (MUPS) are relatively common but complex problems that most primary care physicians face in clinical practice. As very little research has been done on this phenomenon in Hong Kong, this study correlation between MUPS and the psychosocial factors of stress, anxiety, and depression were obtained. Additionally, coping strategies were quantified and used as predictors of MUPS. Results showed that MUPS was strongly correlated with stress and affective states as measured by the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21). It was also found that MUPS were correlated with the Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), the partial regression coefficients of Confrontive Coping and Escape-Avoidance Coping being statistically significant. Those with more than three MUPS were found to be using similar coping methods as those without MUPS. Findings from a canonical correlation analysis suggested that the WCQ variable Seeking Social Support may well not be an exclusively coping strategy. Hopefully, findings from the current study may have important implications on how professionals, including physicians and psychotherapists, can help patients with MUPS.;Keywords: medically unexplained physical symptoms, stress, anxiety, depression, ways of coping. |
