A psychodynamic view of psychosomatic medicine.
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.
Nemiah
J C
JC
Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, USA.
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D004213:Dissociative Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology