BACKGROUND: This paper reviews empirical and clinical evidence of the aetiology and treatment of medically unexplained chronic @entity2371 in @entity1 . MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical experience from an ongoing randomised treatment trial supplemented by computer-assisted reviews of studies obtained by a Premedline and Medline search (1996 to February 2002) and data from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the EBM database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness. RESULTS: The aetiology of medically unexplained chronic @entity2371 is disputed but likely to be multifactorial. A history of interpersonal difficulties and a stressful life is common, and comorbid @entity146 occur frequently. No treatment of choice emerges from the few controlled treatment trials, though a flexible biopsychosocial approach seems the most promising. INTERPRETATION: Empathic medical evaluation and follow-up within a biopsychosocial framework is recommended. Analgesic, hormonal and, if appropriate, surgical treatment can relieve @entity158 . Additional benefits may be obtained by adding sensory awareness-directed physiotherapy aimed at changing @entity925 , body attitude, movement pattern and dysfunctional respiration pattern. Co-morbid @entity146 should be diagnosed and treated. Cognitive-behavioural stress management intervention aimed at improving coping with @entity158 and current life-situation may be indicated in a subsample of @entity1 .

[Chronic XXXX in @entity1 ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['psychiatric disorders'] @entity2371 :: ('MESH:D017699', 'Disease') :: ['pelvic pain'] @entity158 :: ('MESH:D010146', 'Disease') :: ['pain'] @entity925 :: ('MESH:D063806', 'Disease') :: ['painful muscle tensions']
@entity2371 :: (MESH:D017699,Disease) :: ['pelvic pain']
