Psychosomatic diseases are a group of diseases closely related to psychosocial factors but mainly manifested by somatic symptoms, involving respiratory, digestive, endocrine, and other systems. As a result, the lack of consensus on its diagnosis has plagued clinical treatment in internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry for decades. In recent years, research on the pathogenesis of psychosomatic diseases has made significant progress. For example, Franz Alexander believes that unresolved subconscious conflicts are the main cause of psychosomatic disorders. The subconscious psychological conflict is caused by the changes in the functional activities of the autonomic nervous system, acting on the corresponding special organs and patients with susceptible qualities. Similarly, mental and psychological factors affect gastrointestinal sensory and motor functions through the autonomic nervous system, brain-gut axis, and neuroendocrine system. Meanwhile, gastrointestinal symptoms also affect emotions and behaviors through the brain-gut axis. In addition, the Cannon-Bard theory of emotional physiology and Pavlovian theory of higher neural activity types from quantitative research methods to study the relationship between conscious psychological factors, such as emotions, and measurable physiological and biochemical changes. In clinical work, the treatment of psychosomatic diseases has gradually shifted from emphasizing physical treatment to comprehensive treatment principles, that is, taking into account the psychological and behavioral aspects of the physical treatment of the primary disease. The main purpose of physical treatment of the primary disease is to control or relieve symptoms. To consolidate the treatment of psychosomatic diseases and reduce the recurrence of psychosomatic diseases, combining physical therapy with necessary psychotherapy would potentially obtain a more comprehensive curative effect.

Expands and refines the psychosomatic approach in clinical practice Psychosomatic medicine has developed methods to increase diagnostic accuracy and improve targeted therapeutic approaches in all fields of medicine. In this context, clinimetrics, the science of clinical measurements, provides unprecedented opportunities for psychosomatic assessment. This volume illustrates how this approach can be translated into everyday practice complementing and improving the medical interview. The most sensitive and reliable clinical methods are presented for evaluating specific psychosocial aspects of disease, i.e. childhood adversities, life events and chronic stress, lifestyle, sexual function, subclinical and affective disturbances, personality, illness behavior, well-being and family dynamics. Each chapter provides practical illustrations as to how crucial information can be obtained with specific methods individualized according to the patients' needs. A hyperlink is provided to a website that contains many of the instruments assessed in the volume. This book enables the reader to understand the value of the psychosomatic approach in clinical practice. It is intended to expand and refine the skills of clinicians who work in general and specialized medicine and psychiatry, whether physicians, psychologists or other health professionals.

The third edition of Psychiatric Care of the Medical Patient brings a classic reference text into the twenty-first century. It combines critical scholarship with the voice of expert clinicians who work at the interface of psychiatry with medical specialties. It is meant to be read for pleasure as well as consulted as a reference. The editors have worked with the authors to bring a consistent perspective to the book - one that sees the medical psychiatrist as an agent for bringing a more comprehensive perspective to medical care. Even seasoned and knowledgeable practitioners will find much that is new to them in this book. The volume covers topics in depth that other books in the field may not cover at all, such as the use of herbal and nutritional therapies for medical-psychiatric symptoms and syndromes, and the choice of questionnaires to supplement history-taking. It looks at old topics in a new way: The chapter on the physical examination applies psychometric considerations to the Babinski sign, describes the method and application of quantitative bedside olfactory testing, and discusses smartphone apps to improve the sensitivity of the examination. Psychiatric Care of the Medical Patient, 3rd Edition provides concepts and information to facilitate the dialogue between psychiatrists and general medical specialists - minimizing psychiatric jargon and speaking in the common language of caring and curious physicians.

Mental Health and Physical Health are undeniably connected. One cannot recover physically, if there is still mental suffering, and vice versa. The essays collected here examine the relationship between mental and physical health, and how that relationship flourishes or suffers in a managed care environment. Understanding more about how the psychological aftereffects of an illness, and the best ways to respond to them, will ultimately enhance the care offered to patients. The contributors offer a wide range of examples of linked physical and mental illnesses, with advice on how best to responsibly address and treat both. Clinicians and practitioners will welcome this guide to navigating a managed care system and working with patients to heal both their mental and physical maladies equally.

Behavioural and Mental Health Research, 2nd Edition is a thoroughly revised, updated, and expanded version of the invaluable guide to research skills for psychologists, psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, and graduates training in those disciplines. It provides a series of practical guidelines for starting and carrying through any research project: from selecting the most appropriate approach, using computers, and analysing data to applying for funding, writing reports, and even how to enjoy your research! This second edition also includes chapters on methods of assessment, studying people in their social settings, and service evaluation and audit methods. By considering a wide spectrum of different research methods the book gives the reader an insight into the assumptions underlying research. Quantitative methods using group design are described without assuming an advanced level of statistical knowledge. Qualitative, language-based methods and single case studies are explored as possible alternatives.

It is our pleasure to introduce to the readers of Advances in Psychosomatic Medicine: I, the authors of 88 papers presented at the VIth World Congress of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine in Montreal, September 13-18, 1981. These papers are re presentative of more than 700 presentations and discussions that occurred in the course of lectures, symposia, panels and workshops. Adam J. Krakowski, M.D., primary editor of this volume, together with Chase P. Kimball, M.D., GUnsel Koptagel-Ila1, M.D. and Hellmuth Freyberger, M.D. are responsible for the solicitation and final editing of the papers included in this volume. Most of the plenary papers presented at the Congress and subsequently received for pub lication are in preparation for a volume to be issued by S. Karger, Basel, Switzerland, as a special number edited by us with the assistance of Drs. Freyberger and Koptagel-Ilal. The papers in cluded in this volume represent the main substance of the Congress. The editors regret that a number of presentations were either re ceived too late or in insufficient form to allow for publication at this time. A number of other papers presented at the Congress have been released for publication in the Journal of Psychosomatic Re search, the Psychiatric Journal of the University of Ottawa, General Hospital Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and other journals.

This eminently practical reference provides the latest data on the cause, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with medical illness-illuminating the often problematic area between mental and physical dysfunctions. Explicates psychiatric effects of pharmaceuticals used to treat many illnesses, including hypertension, heart disease, transplantation, pulmonary disease, cancer, AIDS, epilepsy, and more. Psychiatric Treatment of the Medically Ill describes methods for ameliorating psychological stressors that impact negatively on purely medical conditions explores physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, dyspnea, and headache as indicators of psychiatric disorder delineates ways in which primary idiopathic disorders can be managed by primary care physicians explains the effects of a wide variety of antidepressants and other psychotropics on cardiovascular activity discusses psychiatric assessment methods, including a review of the epidemiology of psychiatric disorders in medical populations supplies key information regarding organ transplantation, HIV infection, neuropsychiatric disorders, and other conditions in which psychiatric issues can determine the course of illness and recovery and more! Including over 1500 literature citations, Psychiatric Treatment of the Medically Ill addresses those increasingly numerous cases of medical and psychiatric disorders occurring together. This superb ready-reference guide is indispensable for psychiatrists, primary care physicians, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, psychiatric nurses, pharmacologists, and graduate and medical students in these disciplines.

This book is based on extensive research in assessment and treatment of patients with functional disorders and provides a thorough background to functional disorders as well as the etiology, classification and treatment of the disorders. The book primarily targets clinicians in primary care, non-psychiatric specialties and other health care professionals. The chapters combine research and clinical experience and also provide techniques that can be applied in daily clinical practice, both in terms of identifying the patients as well as helping the patients to better cope with their disorder. The highly structured hands-on treatment programme described in the book is now a compulsory part of the specialist training of Danish primary care physicians and has won the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicines Alan Stoudemire Award for Innovation and Excellence in Psychosomatic Medicine Education.

This book offers a resource to aid in implementing psychosocial screening, assessment, and consequently integrating prevention, care and treatment (i.e. pharmacological, psychosocial rehabilitation and psychotherapeutic) in medicine. It is becoming increasingly recognized that one method of combating spiraling health care costs in developed nations is to integrate psychiatric care into medicine including primary care settings. This volume reviews the main issues relative to the paradigm of a person-centered and recovery-oriented approach that should imbue all medical areas and specialties. It proposes integration methods in screening and assessment, clinimetric approach, dignity conserving care, cross-cultural and ethical aspects, treatment and training as a basic and mandatory need of a whole psychosomatic approach bridging the several specialties in medicine. As such, the book addresses a topic that all physicians, including primary care and psychiatric professionals in a wide variety of mental health settings are currently discussing, planning and preoccupied with, namely the task of integrating mental health into all the medical fields, including primary care, cardiology, psychiatry, oncology and so on.