psychosomatic phenomenon

[mirabelle]

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I have two articles about it and I would like to have your opinion on both of them. I don't want to rely on one point on view, I would like to know what you think.
Article 1: Psychosomatic illness explained by Barsky
http://fr.slideshare.net/101N/functional-somaticsyndromesbarsky
Article 2: Psychosomatic illness explained by Helga Pohl
http://www.koerpertherapie-zentrum.de/downloads/PDF_English/Is_everything_psychosomatic.pdf


Also, I would like to know what do you considere as a reference in your learning of this phenomenon and what makes it a reference.

 

[smalltownpsych]

The article on Barsky appeared to be a good summary of some of the research on psychological factors that impact functioning and recovery from illness. If you are doing research in this area, I would suggest that you track down those original sources.
The Pohl article was much more theoretical and was thought-provoking; however, I believe that she was overstating the case of the effectiveness of body therapies without the studies to back it up. That is to say, is massage therapy as effective as CBT or SSRI in treating depression?
What I did really like is that she is pointing to is that invalidating responses from doctors might be making things worse. That might be a good area to research further. I know that when my own doctor would touch my injury gently and reassure me that I am okay and that I will get better, I feel relieved and relaxed and the subjective sensation of pain eases. Many of my patients don't get treated that way by many frustrated medical personnel because they are "drug-seeking, Borderlines, Somaticizing, frequent flyers, general all-around pains in the ____".

 

[mirabelle]

Thanks!