Psychosomatic disorders

Psychosomatic disorders usually denote two groups of diseases: those in which functional disorders occur without the occurrence of a painful state of internal organs: for example, someone has pain in a certain area of the body, but it is not possible to establish damage or dysfunction of this region .

On the other hand, psychosomatic diseases are those in which mental processes lead to functional disorders of organs and diseases - for example, chronic mental stress can lead to burnout syndrome in the psychological aspect, and to organ pathology - the occurrence of hypertension (high blood pressure) in aspect of the physical.

Currently, it is customary to talk about somatoform disorders and somatized mental disorders.

Symptoms

Symptoms of somatoform disorders: 

• the patient complains of pain that is not treatable
• despite numerous negative test results, he insists on more tests, even if the doctors are convinced that his symptoms are not signs of internal diseases
• disproportionately expressed suffering and strong mental components even with harmless diseases or disorders.

Symptoms of somatic disorders:

• varied, frequently changing symptoms of visceral disease for at least two years
• often: long history of diseases with stays in various medical institutions and specialized clinics, mainly with a large number of various examinations, including painful diagnostic procedures up to diagnostic operations
• chronic course of the disease with prolonged negative pressure on the family and social environment.

Treatment

• Based on the analysis of the preliminary results of examinations, an understanding of the reactions of one's own body is developed, and the feeling of insecurity in relation to one's body is destroyed.
• The thesis that complaints about problems with internal organs are a reaction to various psychosocial challenges is individually worked out with the patient, the function and significance of these complaints are discussed.
• The development of both consciously perceived and unconscious and thus unnoticed habitual stress patterns, life circumstances, behavioral and emotional habits, as well as the development of internal mental and interpersonal conflicts that are important for one's own experiences.
• Development of specific effective strategies leading to a gradual decrease in complaints, up to their complete disappearance.
• Real transfer to the patient's natural, everyday situations.