# Who benefits from multidisciplinary care in functional somatic disorders? Identifying cost-effective patient selection through diagnostic classification groups

## TL;DR

Multidisciplinary care reduces healthcare costs for some patients with functional somatic disorders, particularly those with simpler conditions or stress-related issues.

## Contribution

The study identifies diagnostic classification groups that predict cost-effectiveness of multidisciplinary care for functional somatic disorders.

## Key findings

- 56% of patients saw reduced healthcare utilization and costs after multidisciplinary care.
- Patients with simple FSD and stress-exacerbated diseases had significant cost reductions.
- Baseline diagnostic classification reliably predicted treatment cost-effectiveness.

## Abstract

Functional Somatic Disorders (FSD) significantly impact patients’ quality of life while placing a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. Identifying which patients achieve reductions in healthcare costs through multidisciplinary care remains crucial for optimizing resource allocation.

A retrospective analysis examined healthcare utilization and costs during the year preceding and the year following patients’ initiation of treatment at a specialized, multidisciplinary clinic in Israel. The clinic combined medical care with mind-body therapies - including cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnotherapy, and physiotherapy. Using baseline characteristics, patients were divided into Diagnostic Classification Groups (DCG). A multivariable analysis was performed to ascertain the impact of DCG on annual, average changes in healthcare utilization and costs after treatment.

Data from N = 685 patients were analyzed. Reduced healthcare utilization and costs were observed among approximately 56% of the population receiving multidisciplinary care. Mean annual cost reductions were 1,367 ILS per patient. Specifically, significant reductions were observed in hospitalizations (-1,723 ILS) and diagnostic procedures (-495 ILS). Patients with simple FSD and stress-exacerbated diseases showed significant cost reductions (P < 0.05), while those with organic disease or difficult FSD did not demonstrate significant changes. Analysis by DCG revealed that baseline diagnostic classification significantly predicted cost reduction.

Healthcare utilization and costs were reduced among FSD patients receiving multidisciplinary treatment, with outcomes varying by diagnostic classification. Baseline diagnostic classification reliably predicted treatment cost-effectiveness, underlining the economic value of collaborative care for patients with simple functional disorders and stress-exacerbated diseases. These diagnostic patterns provide healthcare policymakers with selection criteria for multidisciplinary programs and inform the development of tailored interventions.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13584-026-00750-7.