International Trends of Therapy and Research in Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

Against the background of the holistic concept of illness trends of psychosomatic therapy and research are identified in major countries. Different countries tend to concentrate on different aspects of research or praxis based largely on their compatibility with cultural or social assumptions of illness. The psychotherapies, behavioral medicine, social therapies and biological approaches are underscored in a given country and even within the same country competing therapies strive for hegemony. Problems and limitations of the reductionistic versus the holistic approaches in psychosomatic research are highlighted.

Impact of an educational workshop on psychiatrists’ attitude towards psychosomatic medicine

“…As a consequence, the debate on psychosomatic medicine is replete with confusion and constantly misrepresented. This lack of global consensus has led to an underrepresentation of psychotherapy, social therapy and behavioural medicine [20]. Moreover, its importance in healthcare systems has been sparingly noted because of scepticism towards psychosomatic physicians and their reputation [21].…”