The integrated approach of the clinic satisfied at least three needs: of the patient, of the referring physician and of the health maintenance organization. The results of this uncontrolled pilot study suggest that this intervention helped to modify illness behaviour, decreasing the costs of medical investigations.

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a biopsychosocial intervention on patients' feelings of well-being, perceptions of health and health indicators before and after treatment in a clinic for primary care frequent attenders. One hundred patients referred to a community-based clinic were assessed using the WONCA-COOP charts and MOS-SF36 questionnaires before and after treatment with an intervention consisting of a narrative interview, short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy, stress reduction techniques and medication. Sixty-three out of 100 patients who completed the COOP charts at intake completed them again at follow-up and 35 patients out of 40 who completed the MOS-SF36 at intake completed them at follow-up. Statistically significant improvement was noted in five out of six categories on the COOP charts ("physical fitness" "emotions", "social function", "daily activity" and "general health status") and in four out of eight categories of the MOS ("emotional health", "physical health", "social functioning", and "pain"). We concluded that in this uncontrolled study, a biopsychosocial intervention produced a positive effect on function and self-perception of health in a group of frequent attenders from primary care.

No abstract