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Persistent Physical Symptoms Research and Treatment Unit

How our service can help you

Our service is an internationally recognised research and treatment unit, which provides a specialist diagnostic assessment and treatment for people with persistent physical symptoms. This includes fatigue, pain, irritable bowel symptoms and non-cardiac chest pain. We have developed models for understanding and treating persistent physical symptoms and continue to be at the forefront of research and development in this field. We offer specific treatment for chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia as well as other persistent physical symptoms.

We also treat fatigue in the context of long-term conditions such as cancer or if people have finished medical treatment but continue to experience symptoms. Our evidence-based treatments are routinely evaluated. Our goal is to increase the person’s functioning, improve quality of life and wellbeing, reduce the severity of their symptoms and facilitate a return to work or education where possible.

  • Treatment type: Outpatient
  • Contact the service

    Site Location: Maudsley Hospital Phone Number: 020 3228 5075
  • Address: Maudsley Hospital,
    ,
    London,
    SE5 8AZ
  • Other essential information

  • Conditions: Persistent Physical Symptoms

Interventions

  • Clinical assessment
  • Processed based cognitive behavioural therapy
  • Activity Management

Eligibility criteria

  • Adolescence and 18 years and older
  • Persistent physical symptoms which have not responded to usual treatment (three months or more) 
  • Profound disability where the symptoms are impacting on several aspects of the person’s life 

Exclusion criteria

The service is unable to work with individuals who are in mental health crisis , and or who maybe currently self-harming. If in active treatment when this occurs treatment may need to be paused. 

Outcomes

  • Resume daily activities
  • Establish a sleep routine
  • Address associated anxiety or depression
  • Address problematic beliefs which interfere with progress, perfectionism or low self-esteem
  • Explore an individual’s lifestyle and make changes which may help to prevent relapse
  • Enable a graded return to work, addressing long-term sickness issues
  • Agree a discharge plan incorporating a relapse plan

Care Options

  • Outpatient assessment – two hours
  • Outpatient Activity Management
  • Outpatient CBT sessions

Referrals

We are an internationally recognised service providing assessment and evidence-based treatment for patients with persistent physical symptoms, including chronic fatigue.

We welcome referrals and will see:

  • Adults of any age
  • Adolescents aged 11 years and older

We encourage referrals particularly in the following circumstances:

  • Those not responding to guided self-help or first line treatment (IAPT)
  • Complexity or multiple symptoms
  • Co-morbid depression, anxiety or other mental health issues
  • Employment or education at risk
  • Housebound or mobility difficulties
  • Frequent attendances or multiple referrals / specialists involved

Read more: Referrals Persistent Physical Symptoms Unit info for referrers 

Our experts

Trudie Chalder: Read more

Dr Muj Husain: Read more

Clare Grey: Read more

Dr Sridevi Sira-Mahalingappa: 

 

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