Psychosomatic families and the general practitioner.
'Psychosomatic families' are characterized by 'enmeshment', over-protectiveness, rigidity, and a marked inability to resolve conflicts. A psychosomatically ill child may help the parents to avoid facing the conflicts in their relationship by apparently focusing all their attention on the child. The general practitioner can help such families by utilizing the principles of family therapy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*