J C Nemiah1. 1. Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to assess the relevance of psychodynamic observations and theory for psychosomatic medicine. METHODS: The evolution of the psychodynamic formulation of psychosomatic symptom formation is described in a brief historical review. RESULTS: There are two distinctly different pathways along which stress-induced psychological arousal is transformed into somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Psychodynamic observations and theory have important implications for psychosomatic research and treatment.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this article is to assess the relevance of psychodynamic observations and theory for psychosomatic medicine. METHODS: The evolution of the psychodynamic formulation of psychosomatic symptom formation is described in a brief historical review. RESULTS: There are two distinctly different pathways along which stress-induced psychological arousal is transformed into somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Psychodynamic observations and theory have important implications for psychosomatic research and treatment.