Efficacy of adjunctive single session counseling for medically unexplained symptoms: A randomized controlled trial

Context: Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS) are often poorly responsive to standard treatments. Aim: The aim of the study is to assess short-term efficacy of adjunctive single session cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)-based counseling for patients with MUS. Setting and Design: Randomized controlled trial at a psychosomatic clinic of a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: Patients with MUS were randomized to receive either the single session counseling (intervention group) (n = 41) or control group which received treatment as usual (n = 35). The counseling intervention focused on three areas – cognitive reattribution, shifting focus, and guided muscular relaxation and lasted around 30 min. The two groups were assessed at baseline and after 1 month for change in outcome measures. Statistical Analysis Used: Repeated measures analysis of variance. P value was adjusted for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni correction and set at