Table 2 Preliminary and working themes

1. Behaviour/Action

Pleasure in life, Coping/Dysfunction, Job satisfaction

2. Primary relationships

Duration of marriage

3. Secondary relationships

4. Doctor-patient relationship

5. Mechanism of illness

Identity/invisible, Stage of development, Personality, Locus of control, Number of siblings, Location of patient, Abuse, Family History, Explanatory model

6. Physical Symptoms

Fear of physical disease, Care seeking, Secondary gain

7. Diagnosis

Medical (primary or secondary), Psychiatric diagnosis (primary or secondary), MUS diagnosis (minor acute, somatisation, neither)

8. Emotionality

Expression during interview, Evidence of emotionality in life, Insight/psychological savvy

9. Excessive testing/medicalisation

10. Reaction to interview and study

11. Religion/spirituality

12. Healthcare system

13. Litigation

14. Education/training

1. Primary mechanism

2. Secondary gain

3. Insight (mind/body connection)

4. Emotionality

5. Symptoms focus

6. Fear of physical disease

7. Quality of dominant relationships

8. Obesity