An Integrative Model for the Treatment of Psychosomatic Disorders
Hector Warnes
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics February 12, 2010 DOI: 10.1159/000286998 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational cohort Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Patients with psychosomatic illnesses (excluding schizophrenia, severe depression, acute physical illness, organic deficits) |
| Duration | 3-4 nights |
| Topics | Anxiety |
| Keywords | Learned helplessness Feeling Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 6 |
| Key findings | Higher psychosomatic 'penetrance' was found specifically in patients with ulcerative colitis, not in all psychosomatic patients, and related to physiological, psychological, and interpersonal parameters. |
Abstract
The functions and dysfunctions of slow wave sleep and of REM sleep and its associated dreams have a tremendous significance in understanding the psychosomatic model of illness and in establishing preventive strategies. Ten patients suffering from a variety of psychosomatic illnessess spent 3-4 nights sleeping at the Dream Laboratory. A psychiatric evaluation was carried out and those suffering from schizophrenia, severe depression, acute stage of physical illness and organic deficits were not accepted for the study. It was postulated that increased psychosomatic 'penetrance' as measured by poverty of fantasy life, feelings of helplessness, absence of dream reports, vacant and contrived emotional expression and poor psychological mindedness would be correlated with psychological test results (IPAT anxiety Scale and Zung Depression Rating Scale), manifest dream content analysis and particular REM and stage 4 deficit. The higher psychosomatic 'penetrance' in our study was not found in all patients with a psychosomatic diagnosis but rather in those patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. The degree of 'penetrance' was related to specific physiological, psychological and interpersonal parameters. Based on these findings a spectrum of clinical and physiological criteria of selection for particular therapeutic intervention was presented.
Comparable studies
Other observational and cohort studies on anxiety, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress reduction program in the treatment of anxiety disorders Patients with generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder with or without agoraphobia | 1992 | Observational cohort | n = 22 |
| Antidepressant effects of a single dose of ayahuasca in patients with recurrent depression: a preliminary report Patients with a depressive disorder | 2015 | Observational study | |
| Patterning of Cognitive and Somatic Processes in the Self-Regulation of Anxiety: Effects of Meditation versus Exercise Regular practitioners of physical exercise or meditation | 1978 | Retrospective study | n = 77 |
| Dynamic coupling of whole-brain neuronal and neurotransmitter systems Healthy humans | 2020 | Observational study | |
| Psychedelics not linked to mental health problems or suicidal behavior: A population study Randomly selected United States adults | 2015 | Observational cohort | n = 135,095 |