Psychosomatic disorders, now more commonly referred to as psychophysiologic illness, are disorders whose symptoms are caused or exacerbated by psychological factors (i.e. of the mind), rather than physiological (physical) causes. Although the illnesses themselves are absolutely real, the trigger that stimulates the development of symptoms is mental rather than physical.
Emotional conditions such as anger, anxiety, depression, stress and guilt can lead to the development of a number of conditions; for example, ulcerative colitis, peptic ulcers, headaches, high blood pressure, strokes and bronchial asthma. The physical element in the cause of these conditions is exacerbated in varying degrees by the emotional element. The balance between these two elements can vary from person to person.
In this section, we take a closer look at psychosomatic disorders, with information on their causes, diagnosis and methods of treatment.
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