Psychosomatic disorders are physical symptoms caused by stress and mental problems. Common disorders include pain disorder, hypochondriasis, somatization disorder, and conversion disorder. Treatment involves therapy and medication for underlying mental conditions. Patients should seek medical or psychiatric treatment to rule out physical ailments.
Psychosomatic disorders are conditions in which stress and mental problems create or contribute to physical symptoms that are not associated with any particular physiological disease. While nearly all physical symptoms may be psychosomatic in nature, the most common psychosomatic disorders are pain disorder, hypochondriasis, somatization disorder, and conversion disorder. Additionally, mental stress can cause or worsen physical symptoms, such as migraines, tension headaches, sexual dysfunction, high blood pressure, and gastrointestinal problems.
One of the most common psychosomatic disorders is pain disorder or psychogenic pain, which refers to physical pain anywhere in the body felt as a result of the connection between the body and the mind. People who are under severe psychological stress or who suffer from a temporary or chronic psychological problem may experience pain for no apparent physical cause. The pain is often described as severe or unbearable. In some cases, chronic pain that has a physical cause can be exacerbated by the emotional distress caused by the patient’s anticipation of pain.
Hypochondriasis is another relatively common psychosomatic disorder that typically affects people during early adulthood. Patients suffering from hypochondriasis believe they have a serious physical ailment or live in fear of serious physical problems. For example, a person with hypochondriasis may believe they have stomach cancer simply by feeling bloated or hearing their stomach growl. Treatment for the disorder usually involves cognitive behavioral therapy and sometimes a prescription for antidepressants.
People who are going through an emotionally difficult time or who suffer from a mental disorder or problem, such as anxiety or depression, may experience physical symptoms along with emotional and mental symptoms. Common psychosomatic complaints include nausea, cramps, diarrhea, headaches, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, and chest pains. Patients who experience these symptoms on a chronic basis over several years are often diagnosed with somatization disorder. Counseling and treatment for underlying mental conditions can help reduce physical symptoms.
Conversion disorder is characterized by neurological symptoms that appear following a traumatic or stressful event and have no physical cause. The condition can cause psychosomatic paralysis of a limb, loss of one of the senses, or seizures. Patients diagnosed with this disorder usually have only brief episodes during which they experience symptoms, although some have ongoing problems.
Patients experiencing ongoing symptoms should always seek medical or psychiatric treatment to rule out any potentially dangerous physical ailments. Psychological stress can exacerbate some physical problems, such as high blood pressure, eczema and ulcers. People complaining of physical symptoms from psychosomatic disorders are usually not pretending or trying to get attention and are experiencing real pain or other symptoms that can be treated with proper diagnosis and treatment. Even if the symptoms are truly psychosomatic, a doctor or mental health professional can recommend treatment to relieve the physical symptoms and minimize the mental and emotional stresses that contribute to the problem.
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