Definition and Types of Psychosomatic Disorder

Subject: Mental Health (Theory)

Overview

Some medical illnesses are thought to include a mental component that results from the pressures and demands of daily life. Examples of conditions where this has been proposed include lower back pain and high blood pressure, both of which have been linked by some researchers to pressures from daily life. The course of any physical sickness is said to be largely influenced by mental and emotional states, according to the psychosomatic theory. Irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer, bronchial asthma, ulcerative colitis, and hypertension are examples of psychosomatic disorders.

PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDER

Introduction

The tensions and strains of daily life are thought to have a mental component in some physical disorders. For instance, it has been proposed that lower back discomfort and high blood pressure may be linked to pressures from daily living by certain researchers. However, in a psychosomatic framework, it is believed that mental and emotional states have the power to dramatically affect how any physical ailment develops. Psychosomatic disorders, in which mental elements significantly influence the onset, manifestation, or remission of a physical illness, are distinguished from somatoform illnesses, in which mental aspects are the only contributing factor to a physical illness.

The most compelling argument against trying to distinguish between purely physical and mixed psychosomatic disorders is that practically all physical illnesses contain mental components that affect how they present themselves, how they persist, how they respond to treatment, and how they resolve. This point of view contends that a person's ideas, feelings, and overall mental health might potentially affect the course of even major illnesses like cancer.

Types

  • Peptic ulcer.
  • Bronchial asthma.
  • Ulcerative colitis.
  • Hypertension.
  • Irritative bowel syndrome.
Things to remember
  1. The tensions and strains of daily life are thought to have a mental component in some physical disorders.
  2. For instance, it has been proposed that lower back discomfort and high blood pressure may be linked to pressures from daily living by certain researchers.
  3. However, in a psychosomatic framework, it is believed that mental and emotional states have the power to dramatically affect how any physical ailment develops.
  4. Peptic ulcer, bronchial asthma, ulcerative colitis, hypertension, and irritable bowel syndrome are examples of psychosomatic disorders.
Questions and Answers

Some physical diseases are thought to have a mental component caused by the stresses and strains of daily life. This has been suggested in the case of lower back pain and high blood pressure, which some researchers believe are related to everyday stresses. Within a psychosomatic framework, however, mental and emotional states are viewed as having the potential to significantly influence the course of any physical illness. Psychosomatic disorders, in which mental factors play a significant role in the development, expression, or resolution of a physical illness, are distinguished from somatoform disorders, in which mental factors are the sole cause of a physical illness.

  • Peptic ulcer
  • Bronchial asthma
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Hypertension
  • Irritative bowel syndrome

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