Psychosomatic disorders

Psychosomatic disorders are a large group of diseases in which, due to disorders in the nervous system, symptoms resemble manifestations of diseases of internal organs occur (for example: pain in the heart, abdomen or tooth, “lump in the throat”, a feeling of lack of air, arrhythmias, fever, burning or numbness of the skin, convulsions, constipation, increase or decrease in blood pressure, etc.). All of them are characterized by reversibility, duration of existence, are interconnected with psychogenic factors, and have a functional nature.

The number of patients with psychosomatic disorders is steadily increasing, up to half of all signs of psychosomatic pathology are detected by therapists.

In any psychosomatic disorders, the activity of the autonomic nervous system is disturbed and various neurological symptoms are manifested. As a rule, such disorders are accompanied by anxiety, symptoms of depression, hypochondria, asthenia.

All psychosomatic disorders are divided into several types:

Are short-term changes that occur in many body systems. These are pallor or redness of the skin, rapid pulse, hypertension, short-term disturbance of urination or defecation, sudden muscle weakness. They usually occur after experiences and are short-lived.

The patient has paresthesias, a feeling of discomfort in the heart area, itching or heaviness in the throat, functional gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac disorders, etc. All this is accompanied by a feeling of fear, increased fatigue, symptoms of depression, sleep disturbances, and inner anxiety. But at the same time, there are no pathophysiological changes in the organs.

A person unconsciously demonstrates painful symptoms that are objectively absent (for example, pain phenomena, psychogenic vomiting, paresthesias, etc.).

Are a reaction to experiences, accompanied by pathological disorders and changes in various organs.

How psychosomatic diseases are manifested

When contacting a therapist, and then a neurologist with complaints of discomfort from the internal organs, no pathology is detected during examination and additional examination. Such patients are sent to see a psychotherapist or psychiatrist who can establish such a conclusion.

In addition to complaints, changes in the mental sphere are detected, as a rule, not gross: mild depression, neurotic state, mild endogenous diseases.

To clarify the condition, in addition to the examination, additional examinations may be required:

• Analyses;
• electroencephalography;
• pathopsychological examination, etc.

What are the dangers of psychosomatic diseases

They do not pose a direct threat to life. But due to unpleasant symptoms, the patient’s quality of life decreases: such patients do not immediately get to a psychotherapist and receive the necessary help, they can go from specialist to specialist for years, take and retake a bunch of unnecessary tests, in the hope of finally finding the cause of their suffering.

With a long-term course of the disease, secondary somatic diseases can be joined: metabolic disorders, dystrophies, decreased immunity.

For the treatment of psychosomatic disorders, complex therapy is the most effective, which may include the following types of treatment:

Psychotherapy. Since most psychosomatic disorders are associated with a mental disorder that is a so-called reaction in response to a traumatic event. In this situation, a qualified psychologist will help to understand the experiences, remove the cause of anxiety and learn to cope with new psychosomatic manifestations.

Pharmacotherapy. Medicines are prescribed by a psychiatrist after diagnosis. If mild sedative drugs do not give a positive effect, often at the beginning of therapy, the doctor may prescribe a course of antidepressants, psychedelic therapy or other drugs.