Psychosomatic Illness

Every condition which a doctor is called upon to treat is according to the strictest definition Psychosomatic, as the course of every illness is atIected by the happiness and peace of mind of the patient. The term Psychosomatic as it is generally used, however, is applied to conditions in which the doctor is unable to find clinical X-ray or pathological changes to account for the symptoms of which the patient is complaining. Unfortunately, the term is commonly used as if it meant Psychogenic, and many doctors apply the label in this way to every complaint voiced by any patient who is known to be psychiatrically disturbed. A situation can arise in which serious conditions can be overlooked because the patient who is complaining has previously been treated for anxiety or depression.