The Psychotherapy of the Psychosomatic Patient

Abstract

On the basis of a relatively restricted definition of psychotherapy, the authors describe some of the reasons why psychotherapy is rather seldom used for psychosomatic patients, on an individual or a group basis. Some details are then given about two other kinds of treatment which contain some elements of psychotherapy, and which have been developed in Lausanne as a consequence of the analysis of the early transactions between the psychosomatic patient and his attendants: (1) a bio-feedback method, whose technical aspect is used as a tool towards a more global approach, through encouraging insight and verbalization on the part of the patient; (2) an interdisciplinary approach by physiotherapists, psychiatrists and somaticians, working together in different modalities, adapted to the differnt cases.