Patients in general practice share a common pattern of symptoms that is partly independent of the diagnosis

To describe self-reported symptoms among patients in general practice and to explore the relationships between symptoms experienced by patients and diagnoses given by general practitioners. Doctor-patient questionnaires focusing on patients' self-reported symptoms during the past 7 days and the doctors' diagnoses. General practices in urban and suburban areas in Southeast Norway. Forty-seven general practitioners who included 866 patients aged ≥18 years on a random day in practice. The most frequently reported symptoms were tiredness (46%), lower back pain (43%), neck pain (41%), headache (39%), shoulder pain (36%), and sleep problems (35%). Women had a significantly higher prevalence than men for 16 of 38 symptoms (p