Psychosomatics
Psychosomatics
Psychosomatics (pronunciation: /ˌsaɪkoʊsəˈmætɪks/) is a branch of medicine that studies the relationship between the mind and the body in regard to health. The term is derived from the Greek words "psyche" meaning mind, and "soma" meaning body.
Etymology
The term "psychosomatic" was first used in the 19th century by German physician Johann Christian August Heinroth. It is derived from the Greek words "psyche" (ψυχή) meaning "soul, mind" and "soma" (σῶμα) meaning "body".
Overview
Psychosomatics is concerned with the ways in which mental and emotional factors interact with and affect the body's physical functioning. It is a multidisciplinary field, involving aspects of psychology, neuroscience, immunology, and endocrinology, among others.
Psychosomatic disorders are conditions in which psychological stresses adversely affect physiological (somatic) functioning to the point of distress. These are real, physical symptoms — not imagined — and are caused by emotional or psychological factors. Examples include irritable bowel syndrome, tension headache, and chronic pain.
Related Terms
- Psychosomatic medicine: A subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of physical symptoms or conditions that have a psychological basis.
- Psychosomatic illness: An illness in which physical symptoms are caused or aggravated by emotional factors.
- Somatoform disorder: A mental disorder characterized by physical symptoms that suggest physical illness or injury, but which cannot be explained fully by a general medical condition.
- Conversion disorder: A mental condition in which a person has blindness, paralysis, or other nervous system (neurologic) symptoms that cannot be explained by medical evaluation.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Psychosomatics
- Wikipedia's article - Psychosomatics
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