Halifax Somatic Symptoms Disorder Trial

The ISTDP model is an emotion focused brief format of psychotherapy that helps the patients identify and address emotional factors that culminate into exacerbation and perpetuation of somatic symptoms. Treatment will be provided according to manualized recommendations. The emphasis is on awareness of emotions and how they affect the person's behavioral patterns and somatic presentation. The research protocol calls for the treatment duration to be initially agreed at 8 weeks and then reviewed. Treatment should be delivered as a maximum 20-session time-limited format. The first session is an extended 2-3 hour appointment; then sessions are planned to occur on a weekly basis lasting 60 minutes in duration. Treatment progress is reviewed, specifically at sessions 4 and 8 to clarify the goal and objectives of further sessions. Patients are informed of the maximum treatment length. Termination in fewer sessions is based upon agreement between therapist and patient.

This Medical Care As Usual (MCAU) was selected to control for both the role of emergency department care and family doctors care, as well as the passage of time and the natural emergence and reduction in symptoms before further intervention. Participants allocated to this group are advised that care will continue to be provided to them by the ED and they will be contacted with an appointment to see a therapist in 8 weeks should they so wish. They are advised to contact their family physician for routine care where necessary