Psychosomatics and Psychodynamics: An Introductory Review

Abstract

The presentation of physical symptoms for medical evaluation and care in the presence of psychopathology constitutes the area of psychosomatic enquiry. The diverse psychiatric conditions with psychosomatic presentations are defined. Underlying psychobiological and psychodynamic mechanisms are discussed. This review of psychodynamics and psychotherapy is particularly focused on conditions where there is concurrent presentation of established organic physical pathology with psychological disorder