Psychological factors in patients with non-specific abdominal pain acutely admitted to a general surgical ward

Non-specific abdominal pain is the commonest reason for acute admission to a general surgical ward. The present study assessed the importance of specific symptom patterns, psychological and behavioural factors in a group of acute admissions and compared patients with appendicitis with those with no specific diagnosis. Psychiatric symptoms were no more prominent than in subjects with appendicitis as measured by psychological rating scales. Patients with non-specific abdominal pain had a poor symptomatic prognosis with continuing use of medical services. NSAP is best seen as a behavioural syndrome with repeated consultation over a long period before and after the index admission for both abdominal and other non specific symptoms.