Psychosomatic, << `sy` koh soh MAT ihk, >> medicine is the use of the methods and principles of psychology in the treatment of physical ailments. The term is taken from the Greek words psyche, which means mind, and soma, which refers to the body.
Doctors have long known that emotional disturbances affect a person’s body. For example, when a person is afraid or angry, epinephrine flows into the blood, increasing the action of the heart. Certain mental conflicts may make a person more susceptible to disease, or cause what appears to be a disease.
Bodily disorders that historically have been thought to be related to emotional disturbances include asthma, peptic ulcers (stomach or duodenal ulcers), rheumatoid arthritis (inflammation and stiffness of the joints), neurodermatitis (chronic skin disorders), and hypertension (high blood pressure). However, this concept is losing popularity among doctors.
Psychosomatic medicine usually is not considered a special field of medicine. Most medical doctors have had some training in psychology and psychiatry. They often use psychological methods along with other methods of treatment. Some patients need help from doctors who specialize in psychiatry.
