What is psychosomatic medicine?

Psychosomatic complaints are common. They account for around 20-40% of visits to the doctor.

Everyone is prone to psychosomatic complaints under stress. Children can also have such complaints. The spectrum of ailments is very broad.

Physical symptoms caused by acute stress are the most common. The autonomic nervous system plays a role here, as do stress hormones. Our body then no longer functions as we would like it to. The consequences are physical complaints or sleep disorders.

People react to acute stress with palpitations, sweating, digestive disorders, back and neck tension, concentration problems and sleep disorders, for example.

Chronic stress can also have an impact on the cardiovascular system, metabolism and immune system. We often react much more sensitively under chronic stress. This in turn often causes pain and can make us ill.

In the case of purely physical illnesses, the cause lies in a demonstrable structural change in an organ (e.g. an inflammation of the intestines that triggers digestive problems).

Psychosomatic body symptoms often arise because the organs are not functioning properly. This is why they are also called “functional body symptoms”. For example, work stress can cause problems in the digestive tract via hormones and the nervous system.

It is therefore not so easy to determine whether complaints are purely physical or psychosomatic. For this reason, a “two-pronged” approach is often taken.

People who are mentally ill suffer from altered feelings, thoughts or behavior. In contrast, psychosomatic illnesses focus on physical complaints.

Combinations of organic, psychosomatic and psychological complaints are very common.

For example, a patient can have a stomach ulcer at the same time due to stress and harmful stomach bacteria. Or a person can initially have psychosomatic complaints for years due to stress, then suffer a heart attack and finally become depressed.

Almost all illnesses can be exacerbated by our environment. Modern psychosomatic medicine takes this into account and looks at biological, psychological and social aspects.

Many physical complaints cannot be clearly explained either organically or psychologically. These complaints can only be explained by the interplay of environment, well-being, body perception and body function. Psychosomatic medicine is the specialization for the whole.

William Osler, an important founder of modern medicine, said: “The good doctor treats the disease; the excellent doctor treats the patient who has the disease”.

The focus is on respect for the individual person. The doctor therefore takes a close look at the body on the one hand, but also pays attention to how the patient feels overall.

A health problem always means both an objectively identifiable illness and the subjective experience of suffering.

An important aim of any treatment is for the person affected to recognize ways to help them have a positive impact on their own health.
The aim is to alleviate the symptoms. Depending on the problem, several methods can be used simultaneously.

The title in psychosomatic medicine is a state-registered, higher additional training. Only those who have completed both a medical degree and specialist training (FMH title) can complete this training.