Osteopaths' Attitudes to Somatisation and the role of Osteopathic Treatment and Management
Item
- Title
- Osteopaths' Attitudes to Somatisation and the role of Osteopathic Treatment and Management
- Title
- Osteopaths' Attitudes to Somatisation and the role of Osteopathic Treatment and Management
- Author(s)
- Tirimo Colette
- Abstract
- Background & Objectives: Lipowski, (1988) described somatisation as a tendency to experience and communicate somatic distress in response to psychosocial stress. The aim of this study was to determine osteopaths’ opinions on somatisation and the role of osteopathic treatment and management. Methods: 200 UK registered osteopaths were sent a questionnaire about treatment, strategies and opinions on the management of somatising patients. Results: 43% of participants felt confident dealing with patients with psychological issues and 30% felt sufficiently skilled to help these patients. On average, patients presented with psychological issues ‘several times a month’. Common screening methods were: questioning during the case history and conversation during treatment (median 4 = ‘often’). Conclusions: Discrepancies were found between prevalence of somatising patients within osteopathic practice and desired skills and confidence to manage them. An understanding of a required shift in management strategies was reported however opinions on how this could be achieved was unclear. Further research is required to investigate the relevance of osteopathic management for somatising patients and how this can be incorporated within the existing healthcare model.
- Abstract
- Background & Objectives: Lipowski, (1988) described somatisation as a tendency to experience and communicate somatic distress in response to psychosocial stress. The aim of this study was to determine osteopaths’ opinions on somatisation and the role of osteopathic treatment and management. Methods: 200 UK registered osteopaths were sent a questionnaire about treatment, strategies and opinions on the management of somatising patients. Results: 43% of participants felt confident dealing with patients with psychological issues and 30% felt sufficiently skilled to help these patients. On average, patients presented with psychological issues ‘several times a month’. Common screening methods were: questioning during the case history and conversation during treatment (median 4 = ‘often’). Conclusions: Discrepancies were found between prevalence of somatising patients within osteopathic practice and desired skills and confidence to manage them. An understanding of a required shift in management strategies was reported however opinions on how this could be achieved was unclear. Further research is required to investigate the relevance of osteopathic management for somatising patients and how this can be incorporated within the existing healthcare model.
- presented at
- British School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2011
- Date Submitted
- 3.2.2012 00:00:00
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Pub-Identifier
- 15112
- Inst-Identifier
- 780
- Keywords
- Somatisation; Osteopathy; Psychological; Pain; Management; Treatment
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Tirimo Colette, “Osteopaths' Attitudes to Somatisation and the role of Osteopathic Treatment and Management”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 3, 2025, https://www.osteopathic-research.org/s/orw/item/1728