The term “psychosomatic disorder” means “a physical disease that is thought to be caused, or made worse, by mental factors.” This term is also used when mental factors cause physical symptoms but where there is no physical disease. For example, chest pain may be caused by stress and no physical disease can be found. Some physical diseases are thought to be prone to be made worse by mental factors such as stress and anxiety. A person’s mental state can affect the degree of severity of a physical disease. Physical symptoms that are caused by mental factors are also called somatization or somatoform disorders. These symptoms are due to increased activity of nervous impulses sent from the brain to various parts of the body. A number of factors may play a role in psychosomatic disorders, such as personality traits; genetic or environmental family influences; biological factors; learned behavior and more.
Which diseases are psychosomatic?
To an extent, most diseases are psychosomatic - including both mind and body. There is a mental aspect to every physical disease. How we react to disease and how we deal with disease vary greatly from person to person. For example, the rash of psoriasis may not bother some people very much. However, the rash covering the same parts of the body in someone else may make them feel depressed and, as a result, more ill.
There can be physical effects from mental illness. For example, with some mental illnesses you may not eat, or take care of yourself, which can cause physical problems. However, the term psychosomatic disorder primarily means "a physical disease that is thought to be caused, or made worse, by mental factors". Some people also use the term psychosomatic disorder when mental factors cause physical symptoms but where there is no physical disease. For example, a chest pain may be caused by stress and no physical disease can be found.
How can the mind affect physical diseases?
It is well known that the mind can cause physical symptoms. For example, when we are afraid or anxious we may develop:
- A fast heart rate.
- A 'thumping heart' (palpitations).
- Feeling sick (nauseated).
- Shaking (tremor).
- Sweating.
- Dry mouth.
- Chest pain.
- Headaches.
- A knot in the stomach.
- Fast breathing.
These physical symptoms are due to increased activity of nervous impulses sent from the brain to various parts of the body and to the release of adrenaline into the bloodstream when we are nervous or scared.
However, the exact way that the mind can cause certain other symptoms is not clear. Also, how the mind can affect actual physical diseases (rashes, blood pressure, etc) is not clear. It may have something to do with nervous impulses going through the body, which we do not fully understand. There is also some evidence that the brain may be able to affect certain cells of the immune system, which is involved in various physical diseases.
Treatment
Each disease has its own treatment options. For physical diseases, physical treatments such as medication or operations are usually the most important. However, healthcare workers will usually try to treat a person as a whole and take into account mental and social factors which may be contributing to a disease. Therefore, treatments to ease stress, anxiety and depression may help if they are thought to be contributing to your physical disease.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is often the treatment of choice for a psychosomatic disorder. This therapy helps patients learn new ways to cope with and solve their problems as they gain a deeper understanding of their condition or circumstances. Patients should also learn to set realistic life goals and identify behaviors or thoughts that have negative effects on their lives. Positive attitude, healthy body!
