Psycho-physiological disorders are categorized under mental disturbances that arise from psychological dysfunction, disorders or difficulties which are manifested through physical symptoms. However, these physical symptoms cannot be traced back to any serious physical disease or an origin. Nor are they under the conscious control of the patient.
Hein Roth first used the word psychosomatic in 1817, applying it to problems of insomnia. Psychosomatic and Somatoform are two other names used for psycho-physiological disorders. Cannon (1927) showed how different emotions produced patterns of physiological alterations, emphasizing the importance of the autonomic network. It is also known that certain inherited traits respond differently to certain stimuli such as stress and anxiety causing physical system break downs. Another explanation for psychosomatic disorders is that some personality types itself respond in vulnerable ways to contract physical symptoms. Negative emotions influence our hormones and lower our immunity to several diseases. Depression, anger, and social isolation contribute to heart diseases. Stress on the other hand, affects asthma, digestive track disorders and many other physical ailments.
Recent research has continued to confirm the role of psychological factors in heart disease. John Hopkins University has confirmed that medical students who expressed or concealed their anger, were irritable, and griped a lot were three times more likely to develop early heart disease and five times more likely to have a heart attack than their calmer class mates.
Somatization syndrome is also known as the Briquette’s syndrome. The distinguishing characteristic of this disorder is a group or pattern of symptoms in several different organ systems of the patient's body that cannot be accounted for by medical illness. The main symptoms of this disease manifest in painful places such as the digestive tract, sexual organs and the nervous system. Somatization is known to persist throughout a patient’s life. It is also likely to run in families.
Conversion disorder is where a person experiences impairment of ability to walk or move and is unable to use the senses in a normal way, without any neurological basis or cause having an impact on the physiology. Psychological factors such as stress and trauma play a major role in this disorder. Example is a situation where a person would lose hisher voice in a situation where heshe is afraid to speak. These symptoms may later develop into permanent conditions such as paralysis, loss of sensation (touch, taste), going blind or deaf and having hallucinations.
Pain disorder is marked by severe pain and becomes the focus of the patient's concern. Pain disorders cover a range of patients with a variety of ailments, including back problems, chronic headaches, muscle aches and cramps, arthritis or pelvic pain. It is fair to assume that the source of pain is psychological in most of these cases because the patient’s will not be consistent in the complaints they make. However, it is important to remember that medicinal drugs in itself; can cause pain for many people. Therefore, a fair assumption would be that the condition has both physiological as well as psychological base.
Hypochondria are another form of somatoform disorder marked by excessive fear or preoccupation with having a serious illness that persists in spite of medical testing and reassurance. This condition is often correlated with stressful events in one’s life style.
Body dysmorphic disorder is another form where the individual becomes excessively and exaggeratedly pre-occupied with an imagined defect in appearance. Most cases involve features of the patient’s face or head. This condition is known to be chronic and the offset of the disorder is known to be the late teenage.
The activity of the gastrointestinal tract is intimately intertwined with emotional life, past and present. In our language, metaphors abound connecting its functions to this system. For example we often say "I can't stomach this fellow" or, "he has a lot of guts". These deliver emotions such as anger, sadness, loss, happiness, courage etc. During depressions there is a lack of appetite, decreased salivation and intestinal peristalsis resulting in constipation and weight loss.
Peptic ulcers are linked to psychological factors of strong such as, needs to be taken care of, to be nurtured, and to have close body contact. These needs in turn may be compensated with independence, self reliance and manifestations of aggression.
Other psycho-physiological disorders include asthma, anaeroxia nervosa, acne, blisters, headaches, hypertension, disturbances in urination and menstruation etc. Another short term symptom is diarrhoea resulting in changes in the usual life style such as marriage, moving into a different room etc.
Psychotherapeutic methods such as hypnosis and free association are largely used as a means to controlcure the disorders. Certain chronic forms of psychosomatic disorders should also be helped through medicinal therapy. Other psychotherapies include behaviour therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy and bio feed back.
