PROGNOSIS IN SOME PSYCHOSOMATIC DISEASES

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Abstract
Studies are cited showing that some psychosomatic diseases seem to have various relationships with severe psychoses and neuroses. While the incidence of these relationships is relatively small, they suggest that the human organism must be treated for social as well as physiological maladaptations in order to maintain health. To help a patient obtain relief from such disorders as peptic ulcer, mucous colitis, bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, neurodermatitis, hyperthyroidism, alcoholism or obesity only to have him suffer from disabling depressions, paranoid or psychotic states, some of which end with suicide, is not fulfilling the medical obligation. We must learn to distinguish further between symptoms, even though they involve total systems, and the underlying disease. - Even though some symptoms can be alleviated by physical or psychological means, it is essential to discover "the capacity to form new symptoms" (Freud) in order to restore the patient to true health. The current uses of electric shock, psychosurgery and drugs such as ACTH and cortisone accentuate the need for more comprehensive biological studies of patients in order to provide etiologic therapy.

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