Psychosomatic disorders

The inextricable unity of the existence of the somatic and mental component of the human body leads to the fact that in the vast majority of cases, disorders and pathological changes in one area necessarily find a response and lead to a violation and breakdown in another. So, somatic diseases, being primary, can cause mental disorders, often happens and vice versa. The proposed treatment can also provoke a mental disorder (surgical intervention, a course of chemotherapy in cancer patients). Sometimes a mental disorder manifests itself in the form of an imaginary, far-fetched presence of a somatic disease. All of the above pathological conditions that combine somatic and mental disorder are combined into a large group of psychosomatic disorders.

Psychosomatic disorders are a serious problem not only of psychiatry, but of the whole medicine. According to modern statistics, the proportion of patients with similar disorders reaches 50% in the initial outpatient appointment. Such patients, presenting a lot of health complaints and having, as a rule, a specific personality type, achieve a large number of unreasonable diagnostic tests, which entails financial costs.

Thus, knowledge of psychosomatic reactions allows the doctor to adequately respond to the contingent of “difficult and constant” patients, and the patients themselves to correctly assess their health and capabilities, avoid unnecessary examinations, save their strength and money, as well as time spent on unnecessary treatment.

Types of Psychosomatic Disorders

Given the wide variety of clinical manifestations and the long history of studying this pathology, several classifications of psychosomatic disorders have been developed to date. The most common classification includes 4 main groups:

  • Classical psychosomatic diseases;
  • Somatoform disorders;
  • Nosogeny;
  • Somatogeny.

Although this classification is not widespread among practitioners, it allows the most logical and understandable systematization of all psychosomatic disorders. In the practice of Western psychiatry, the concept of "psychosomatic disorders" and "somatoform disorders" is identified.

Psychosomatic diseases in the classic manifestation

Classical psychosomatic diseases include those diseases caused by psychological trauma, chronic stress, chronic fatigue, lack of proper rest and other psychogenic effects. A huge role in the development of psychosomatic diseases is played by the type of person’s personality, especially the emotional response to external stimuli. Initially, classic psychosomatic diseases meant seven pathologies (the “Chicago seven” or “the holy seven”):

  • Essential arterial hypertension;
  • Duodenal ulcer;
  • Nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
  • Bronchial asthma;
  • Thyrotoxicosis;
  • Rheumatoid arthritis;
  • Neurodermatitis.

Later, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and even coronary heart disease were added to psychosomatic diseases. Currently, the question of attributing to this group of radiculitis, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, dyskinesia of the gallbladder, psoriasis and some other diseases is being considered.

Somatoform Disorders

In somatoform disorders, the patient presents a large number of serious complaints from organs and systems, while there is no objective pathological change in them. This is confirmed by numerous laboratory and instrumental studies, on the passage of which the patients themselves insist. Given the lack of organic pathology, and sometimes even functional changes, the prescribed therapy is ineffective. The patient complains about the unprofessionalism of the doctor, and the doctor classifies such a patient in a special category of “annoying” or “undesirable” clients. Unfortunately, this practice is quite common, although incorrect. These patients are shown not a “special category”, but a consultation with a psychotherapist.

Nosogenia

Nosogeny is a pathological psychological reaction of a person (usually in the form of neurosis, asthenia) in response to the occurrence of a somatic disease in him. Most often, nosogenesis is found in diseases of the cardiovascular system (coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension), in the detection of malignant neoplasms, while waiting for severe treatment (surgical interventions, prolonged immobilization after injuries or burns, chemotherapy).

Somatogeny

Somatogeny is a neuropsychiatric disorder resulting from a direct pathological effect on the central nervous system and higher nervous activity of infections, intoxications, brain injuries, radiation exposure, and tumors. Somatogeny can develop after hemodialysis, some surgical interventions, after transferring, or in the period between exacerbations of severe mental illness.

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