Overlap

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Exploring Associations and Overlap between Disorders of a Medically Unexplained and Organic Nature (OVERLAP)

• IRAS ID

  226262

• Contact name

  Yan Yiannakou

• Contact email

  yan.yiannakou@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  Count Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 0 months, 2 days

• Research summary

  Research Summary:
  This study represents the first phase of a programme of research which encompasses two studies. Study A - Prevalence study which aims to characterise the strength of the associations between Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue and Fybromalgia. Study B - OVERLAP:Surgery will look at the interaction these conditions have on the outcome of surgery for pelvic floor failure.
  The objectives for the OVERLAP prevalence study are
  i) To characterise the coexistence of multi-morbidity within the Medically Unexplained Syndrome (MUS) spectrum within tertiary care clinic populations and establish a hierarchy of prevalence

  ii) To investigate temporal relationships in overlap of the different contributing disorders

  iii) To quantify the relationship between MUS disorder and joint hypermobility

  iv) To consent patients for future contact to participate in
  a) a questionnaire study of symptom overlap;
  b) an investigation of multidisciplinary team management of disease and
  c) mechanistic studies to test hypotheses generated in objectives i) to iii above)

  -The project is questionnaire based, recruiting patients from three specialist clinics. Control patients of similar demographic and medical backgrounds will also be recruited.

  We will also aim to gain consent for contact for future research projects.

  The 2nd study within the project, OVERLAP:Surgery will recruit patients that have undergone surgery in the form of laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy. They will be asked the same questions as the prevalence study with a supplemental bank of questions assessing outcome of surgery. The results from this cohort will contribute to the work for Miss French's Thesis for her MD. The aim of this study will be to assess the role MUS have on the outcome of surgery.

  The time scale for recruitment will be 2 years.

  Summary of Results:
  The study concluded data collection on 30 September 2019 as notified. Data were collected from 488 participants across County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead NHS Foundation Trust, and Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust. The dataset has the potential to offer novel insights into the relationships between functional disorders, and the study attracted considerable enthusiasm from participants, many of whom invested substantial time in data collection.
  Regrettably, a combination of unforeseen circumstances has delayed progress to analysis. The research fellow responsible for the study departed on maternity leave shortly after data collection concluded, before analysis could begin, and subsequently took up a busy clinical post. In 2020 we had the COVID-19 pandemic and, at that time, I received a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, which affected my priorities.
  It has taken a while, but WE have now identified a statistician (and the funding required) and a clinician who are prepared to undertake the analysis and write-up.

• REC name

  London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/LO/1435

• Date of REC Opinion

  6 Sep 2017

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion