Medically unexplained symptoms: A guide for parents, carers, and families
Around 30 per cent of young people seen by health practitioners like GPs experience physical symptoms that don’t have a clear medical cause or explanation. These are known as medically unexplained symptoms (MUS), physical symptoms that are not caused by a medical illness.
We have developed a useful guide to help parents, carers, and family members understand and support their young person experiencing MUS.
The guide was made by health professionals, researchers, and people with a lived or living experience of MUS including people who have cared for a loved one.
It provides a clear picture of what MUS are and how they can present, the processes of diagnosis and treatment, and the support options available.
There are four parts in this guide:
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- Part one: Understanding medically unexplained symptoms
- Part two: The mind-body connection and stress
- Part three: Assessment and diagnosis
- Part four: Treatment and recovery
Even though MUS are distressing, with the right support young people can learn to manage their symptoms, improve their overall wellbeing, and get back to the things they love.
Go to the medically unexplained symptoms family guide
