Abstract
Psychosomatic medicine focuses on holistic care, involving the biopsycho-social aspects and mind-body relationships. It involves the role of psychosocial factors in etiopathogenesis and maintenance of medical conditions, and the importance of holistic interventions. The term psychosomatic medicine has undergone transformation following the growing rejection of psychodynamic and psychoanalytic schools of thought and replaced by contemporary concepts of consultation liaison psychiatry, behavioral medicine, and general hospital psychiatry. The role of stress and neurohumoral activity still remain of importance, and behavioral and alternative medicine gain significance. Diagnostic criteria for psychosomatic research have been proposed and methodologically stringent studies are needed to validate the concepts of psychosomatic conditions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences: Second Edition |
| Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
| Pages | 484-490 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780080970875 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780080970868 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 26-03-2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Social Sciences(all)