Psychosomatic Disorders: A Buddhist Psychological Perspective
Tjhin Kindella Yunia, Ida Ayu Gde Yadnyawati, Ida Ayu Komang Arniati
Asian Journal of Engineering Social and Health July 2, 2025 DOI: 10.46799/ajesh.v4i6.585 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Qualitative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 10 |
| Population | Ten participants from diverse religious, ethnic, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds |
| Intervention | Buddhist psychotherapy |
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Keywords | Perspective graphical Psychotherapist Psychosomatic medicine Clinical psychology Psychoanalysis Artificial intelligence |
| Key findings | Argues that psychosomatic disorders are rooted in unhealthy mental states driven by greed, hatred, and delusion, and that Buddhist psychotherapy—integrating ethical conduct, mental concentration, and wisdom—improves well-being. |
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global mental health crisis, leading to widespread psychological distress and long-term impacts, as highlighted by the WHO on World Mental Health Day 2022. Beyond the pandemic, increasing life pressures and traumatic experiences further elevate the risk of mental disorders, particularly psychosomatic conditions where psychological factors affect physical health. This study aims to examine the psychological factors contributing to psychosomatic disorders and explore their management through a Buddhist psychology approach. Employing qualitative methods, the research involved ten participants from diverse religious, ethnic, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds. Findings indicate that, from a Buddhist psychological perspective, psychosomatic disorders are largely rooted in unhealthy mental states. These are characterized by 16 forms of unwholesome consciousness (citta), primarily driven by greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha), which can lead to misperceptions (saññ?-vipall?sa) and cognitive distortions. The study identifies two key processes in the development of these disorders: the mental process (citta-v?thi) and the physical process (r?pa-v?thi), with unhealthy thoughts shown to negatively affect bodily health. Buddhist psychotherapy addresses these disorders through an integrated approach involving ethical conduct (s?la) as behavioral therapy, mental concentration (sam?dhi) as psychological therapy, and wisdom (paññ?) as cognitive therapy. The application of this framework has demonstrated positive outcomes in improving physical, psychological, and social well-being. These results suggest that Buddhist psychotherapy offers an effective and holistic alternative for managing psychosomatic disorders.
Comparable studies
Other qualitative studies on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... | 2017 | Qualitative study with mixed-methods | |
| A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners | 2014 | Qualitative study | |
| Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns | 2011 | Mixed-methods study | n = 139 |
| Anger regulation in traumatized Cambodian refugees: the perspectives of Buddhist monks. Buddhist Cambodian monks in Massachusetts | 2011 | Qualitative study | n = 6 |
| The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators | 2018 | Qualitative study |