Psychosomatic medicine

Psychosomatic medicine is the medical field studying and providing an interdisciplinary approach to psychosomatic illness, now more commonly referred to as psychophysiologic illness, disorders whose symptoms are caused by mental processes of the sufferer rather than immediate physiological causes. These syndromes are classified as neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders by the World Health Organisation in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems.

Psychosomatic medicine integrates interdisciplinary evaluation and management involving specialties as psychiatry, psychology, neurology; surgery; gynecology; pain management; pediatrics; dermatology; and psychoneuroimmunology. Clinical situations as depression as a major factor affecting medical outcomes in coronary artery disease, diabetes, neuropsychiatric presentations of endocrine, rheumatologic, and infectious diseases; functional disorders like irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome; psychiatric complications of medical treatments like chemotherapy, implanted defibrillators, and immunosuppression; psychological factors affecting medical compliance and surgical results; and special considerations in using psychiatric drugs in the medically ill, are all areas where Psychosomatic medicine has competence.^[1]

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History

Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud famously studied psychosomatic illnesses, which informed his theories of the unconscious mind and repression. Many identifiable illnesses have previously been labelled as 'hysterical' or 'psychosomatic', for example asthma, allergies, false pregnancy, and migraines. Some illnesses are under debate, including multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Some people suggest that stigmatics suffer a psychosomatic illness based on identifying with the biblical crucified Jesus.

Modern connotations

The term "psychosomatic" has developed a negative connotation in modern medicine, being confused with malingering, mental illness or outright fakery. Psychosomatic pain is difficult to differentiate from the above conditions but actual psychosomatic pain is real pain caused by unconscious mind rather than symptoms of illness or injury. Psychosomatic illness can result from problems with relationships, stress or other non-physical causes, often influenced by external factors or individuals.

Treatment

Various types of psychotherapy and alternative therapies are used to treat psychosomatic disorders. In some cases, psychosomatic problems may improve or disappear following suggestion by a recognized authority.

Treatment is typically anti-anxiety medications and/or anti-depressants in conjuntion with therapy of some kind. Unlike hypochondria (which some mistakenly think is the same thing as psychosomatic illness), sufferers of a psychosomatic illness are experiencing real pain, real nausea, or other real physically felt symptoms, but with no diagnosable cause.

See also

• Illness as Metaphor
• Theory of Deadly Initials
• Placebo
  • Nocebo
  • Placebo (origins of technical term)
• Psychoneuroimmunology

References

External links

• Mind-Body Medicine: An Overview, US National Institutes of Health, Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• NIH
• American Psychosomatic Society
  • Psychosomatic Medicine, journal of the American Psychosomatic Society

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