Psychosomatic disorders: causes, symptoms and treatment

You have probably heard on occasion that a person's blood pressure has risen or that their hair falls out due to the 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 the health level, but in other cases they can be found more severe diseases, causing pain or discomfort or even incapacitating in some domain vital to the subject. Here we would be talking about a psychosomatic disorder.

• Related article: "The 18 types of mental illness"

When sickness is caused by the mind

Psychosomatic disorder is understood to be 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 refers to any situation in which mental processes have a direct, concrete and easy-to-define effect on one or more areas of the body.

This means that there is no single psychosomatic disorder, but there is a wide variety of them

depending on the type of physical symptoms and the organ system that presents damage.

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 suppose the existence of stress, anxiety, frustration or mental discomfort persistent over time, causing ongoing suffering, the body responding physically and causing real damage to it. Damage is usually caused by the continued release of adrenalin Y cortisol or the presence of deficits or excesses in the habitual issuance of neurotransmitters and hormones.

Disorders generated or accentuated by the psyche

Psychosomatic disorders are many and varied, and can affect different systems such as endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive or immune.

Some of the main disorders that can occur or be greatly aggravated due to psychic causes are the following.

• Heart disease: angina pectoris, myocardial infarction.
• Vascular disorders: arterial hypertension.
• Lung disease: asthma.
• Gastrointestinal disorders: peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis.
• Metabolic disorders: Mellitus diabetes.
• Genitourinary: dysmenorrhea, polyuria.
• Dermatopathies: acne, eczema.
• Immunopathies: cancer, infectious diseases.

Differences between somatoform and psychosomatic disorders

Psychosomatic and somatoform disorders are often confused. However, we are facing 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 without However, they 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 an organic damage or real physical disease 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.

• You may be interested: "Factual Disorders: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment"

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, being 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 be treated differently than dysmenorrhea or angina pectoris or arrhythmia.

Pharmacological and medical intervention

At a pharmacological and medical level, treatment will focus first on treating the symptoms presented and the tissue damage from which it derives. Since anxiety and mood are linked to these types of disorders, treating them pharmacological aspects can also be very useful, although in this aspect the drugs usually have only a temporary effect and symptoms may return.

Psychological intervention

On a psychological level, it is essential that the patient be able to express the psychic reason for which he 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 to this, the type of condition generated and the effects that its existence may have on a mental level on the patient must be taken into account.

Carrying out different relaxation techniques, problem solving technique, 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 this type of skills), cognitive restructuring in order to modify dysfunctional beliefs, systematic desensitization or psychodrama can be very helpful in order to improve 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 expressing or even becoming aware of the origin of their ailment or the reason for which it has been enhanced is.

Likewise, moderate physical exercise (depending on the case, since if there is coronary disease, extreme caution should be exercised in this aspect), the expression of conflicts or even elements such as aromatherapy can also be useful for this type of patients.

Bibliographic references:

• American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Fifth edition. DSM-V. Masson, Barcelona.

• Bruceta, J.M.; Well, A.M.; More, B. (2000). Psychological intervention in health disorders. Dykinson.

• Sandín, B. (1993). Stress and Health: Factors involved in the relationship between stress and physical illness. Madrid: Pyramid.