title: Treating Somatic Fixation: A Biopsychosocial Approach: When patients express emotions with physical symptoms.
abstract: Somatic fixation occurs when the patient or physician focuses exclusively on the biomedical aspects of a complex illness. Individual, family, and cultural factors promote the expression of emotional experience through physical symptoms. The physician or treatment team establishes a collaborative relationship with the patient and family, integrating biomedical and psychosocial evaluations and respecting the patient's defenses.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: McDaniel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seaburn