Psychosomatic Disorders: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
You’ve probably heard on some occasion that a person’s blood pressure has risen or their hair is falling out due to anxiety. In these cases it is considered that a mental phenomenon is the cause of a real physiological phenomenon.
These examples do not seem very important at a health level, but in other cases more severe diseases may be found, causing pain or discomfort or even disabling in some vital domain for the subject. Here we would be talking about a psychosomatic disorder.
Psychosomatic disorder is understood as any disorder with a visible and medically verifiable correlate in the body that is caused and/or enhanced by psychic or mental elements. In other words, psychosomatic is understood as any situation in which mental processes have a direct, concrete and easy-to-delimit effect on one or more areas of the body.
This means that There is no single psychosomatic disorder, but rather a wide variety of them. depending on the type of physical symptoms and the body system that is damaged.
The causes of this type of disorder are, as we have said, mental, but there is no single process by which they are formed. In general They imply the existence of stress, anxiety, frustration or emotional discomfort persistent over time, causing continuous suffering, the body responding physically and causing real damage to it. Generally, the damage is caused by the continued release of adrenaline and cortisol or the presence of deficits or excesses in the usual emission of neurotransmitters and hormones.
Psychosomatic disorders are many and varied, and can affect different systems such as the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive or immune systems.
Some of the main disorders that can occur or be greatly aggravated due to psychological causes are the following.
Differences between somatoform and psychosomatic disorders
Psychosomatic and somatoform disorders are often confused. However, we are faced with different types of disorder, since despite agreeing on different fundamental and defining aspects, there is a main difference.
This difference is that while in somatoform disorders the patient suffers a series of physical or physiological symptoms but which do not have a physiological correlate in the form of tissue damage, in psychosomatic disorders there is visible and detectable damage. in the organism.
Thus, the main difference is that in psychosomatic disorders there is real organic damage or physical illness while in somatomorphs these are not visible despite the fact that in both cases there are symptoms of them and that also in both cases the problem is caused or enhanced by a psychic phenomenon.
Treatment of psychosomatic disorder
The treatment of psychosomatic disorders can be complex, and to carry it out it is necessary to have the participation of a multidisciplinary team, which is especially necessary the participation of specialists in medicine and psychology.
In general, the type of treatment will vary greatly depending on the type of pathology that is generated or enhanced. For example, an ulcer will have a different treatment than dysmenorrhea or angina pectoris or an arrhythmia.
At a pharmacological and medical level, treatment will focus first on treating the symptoms presented and the tissue damage from which they arise. Given that anxiety and mood are linked to this type of disorders, the treatment of these aspects at a pharmacological level can also be very useful, although in this aspect drugs They usually have only a temporary effect and symptoms may reappear.
Psychological intervention
At a psychological level, it is essential that the patient be able to express the psychological reason why he or she generates the symptoms, so it will be necessary to use techniques dedicated to this purpose. The use of those techniques used in the treatment of anxiety, stress and depression is recommended. In addition, the type of condition generated and the effects that its existence may have on the patient’s psychological level must be taken into account.
Performing different relaxation techniques, problem-solving techniques, learning different methods to tolerate and manage stress and anxiety, and even training in social skills (in cases where anxiety is exacerbated by a deficit). in these types of skills), cognitive restructuring in order to modify dysfunctional beliefs systematic desensitization or psychodrama can be very helpful in improving symptoms.
The use of theatricalization in the form of role-playing, modeling or psychodrama is an element to take into account and that can contribute greatly to the improvement of symptoms by allowing the subject to express or even become aware of the origin of their illness or the reason why it has been enhanced.
Likewise, performing moderate physical exercise (depending on the case, since if there is coronary disease, extreme caution must be taken in this regard), the expression of conflicts or even elements such as aromatherapy can also be useful for this type of patient.
Bibliographic references:
SandÃn, B. (1993). Stress and Health: Factors that intervene in the relationship between stress and physical illness. Madrid: Pyramid.
