Psychosomatic Plasticity: An "Emergent Property" of Personality Research?

Psychosomatic plasticity, defined as an extreme capacity to turn suggestions into bodily realities, is as phenomenon well worth investigating, as it challenges mainstream conceptions about the relationship between mind and body in health as well as illness. The field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) offers a framework within which to understand this phenomenon, as PNI makes a compelling case for the biological unity of self. Hartmann’s Boundaries concept is particularly applicable, as it suggests that the minds of ‘thin-boundary’ persons are relatively fluid and able to make numerous connections. Wilson and Barber’s identification of the fantasy prone person, and Thalbourne’s transliminality concept, are similarly relevant. Taking these explorations a step further, the author proposes that the flow of feeling within individuals represents the key to psychosomatic plasticity. Blushing, psoriasis, and immune reactions are offered as examples, as are more anomalous reports such as those provided by heart transplant recipients and cases said to be indicative of reincarnation. In each instance, persons who are highly sensitive (i.e., have a speedier and more direct flow of feeling) are more likely to evidence physical reactions. Psychosomatic plasticity represents an emerging area of interest in personality research, one that clearly merits further investigation

Association between psychosomatic health symptoms and common mental illness in Ghanaian adolescents: Age and gender as potential moderators

Little is known about the role of age and gender in the association between psychosomatic symptoms and common mental illness in Ghanaian adolescents. This cross-sectional study examined age and gender as moderators between psychosomatic symptoms and common mental illness using data from a school-based survey ( N = 770). Males reported higher psychosomatic symptoms and common mental illness, while younger adolescents reported higher common mental illness only. Psychosomatic symptoms were positively associated with common mental illness, but age and gender did not moderate this association. Interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence rate in psychosomatic symptoms are crucial in decreasing common mental illness in Ghanaian adolescents. </jats:p

Cadavre Exquis: motion-controlled interactive film

This interactive film, a variation on the surrealist game Cadavre Exquis, seeks the possibility of subverting the filmic discourse by exploring psychosomatic processes that may give the viewer different perceptions of cinematic time, by providing the possibility of intervening into the narrative in a disruptive way.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Psihosomatski poremećaji učenika srednjih škola u Osijeku

Psychosomatic disorders occur quite commonly in adolescence. The aim of the study was to define the prevalence of psychosomatic disorders in the population of secondary school students in Osijek, and to compare the groups of students with psychosomatic disorders and psychosomatic reactions with the group of healthy students according to their socioeconomic, family, relational and hereditary contextual factors. A total of 508 secondary school students from Osijek (170 male and 338 female) aged 15-19 years were included in the study. Study subjects were divided into three groups: (a) healthy students (n=272; 53.54%); (b) students with psychosomatic reactions (n=190; 37.40%); and (c) students with psychosomatic disorders (n=46; 9.06%). Accordingly, 37.40% and 9.06% of student sample suffered from psychosomatic reactions and psychosomatic disorders, respectively. The most common psychosomatic reactions were allergies (22.04%), dysmenorrhea (21.01%) and acne (16.00%). The most common psychosomatic disorders were asthma (4.33%) and hypertension (1.96%). Psychosomatic reactions occurred more often in female than in male students. The number of divorced parents was significantly higher in the group of students with psychosomatic disorders (52.20%) as compared with the group of healthy students (15.10%). The rate of psychosomatic disorders was significantly lower among parents of healthy students (28.70%) as compared with parents of students with psychosomatic reactions (47.90%) and those with psychosomatic disorders (67.40%). Study results pointed to a conclusion that hereditary factors (predisposition) and factors representing the source of intense fear in childhood and adolescence (e.g., parents. divorce) played a significant role in the onset of psychosomatic disorders.Psihosomatski poremećaji su česti u adolescenciji. Cilj istraživanja bio je utvrditi učestalost psihosomatskih poremećaja u populaciji učenika srednjih škola u Osijeku, te usporediti skupine učenika s psihosomatskim poremećajima i psihosomatskim reakcijama sa skupinom zdravih učenika prema njihovim socioekonomskim, obiteljskim, odnosnim i nasljednim kontekstualnim čimbenicima. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo 508 učenika srednjih škola u Osijeku (338 ženskih i 170 muških) u dobi od 15 do 19 godina. Sukladno cilju istraživanja ispitanici su bili podijeljeni u tri skupine: a) zdravi učenici (n=272; 53,54%); b) učenici s psihosomatskim reakcijama (n=190; 37,40%); i c) učenici s psihosomatskim poremećajima (n=46; 9,06%). U ispitivanom uzorku je 37,40% učenika imalo psihosomatske reakcije, a 9,06% učenika psihosomatske poremećaje. Najčešće psihosomatske reakcije bile su alergije (22,04%), dismenoreja (21,01%) i akne (16,00%). Najčešći psihosomatski poremećaji bili su astma (4,33%) i hipertenzija (1,96%). Psihosomatske reakcije su bile češće kod učenica negoli kod učenika. Broz razvedenih brakova roditelja učenika bio je značajno veći u skupini s psihosomatskim poremećajima (52,20%) nego u skupini zdravih učenika (15,10%). Roditelji zdravih učenika imali su značajno manje psihosomatskih poremećaja (28,70%) nego roditelji učenika s psihosomatskim reakcijama (47,90%) i onih s psihosomatskim poremećajima (67,40%). Rezultati istraživanja upućuju na zaključak da u nastanku psihosomatskih poremećaja značajnu ulogu imaju nasljedni čimbenici (predispozicija) i čimbenici koji predstavljaju izvore snažnog stresa u djetinjstvu i adolescenciji (npr., rastava braka roditelja)

Intra- and extra-familial adverse childhood experiences and a history of childhood psychosomatic disorders among Japanese university students

BACKGROUND: Japan has been witnessing a considerable increase in the number of children with psychosomatic disorders. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the risk of psychosomatic disorder in adolescents and intra- and extra-familial adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 1592 Japanese university students (52% male, mean age 19.9 years) who completed a survey about intra- and extra-familial ACEs and the incidence of childhood psychosomatic disorders. Intra-familial ACEs included domestic violence, physical violence, emotional abuse, illness in household, parental divorce, no parental affection, and dysfunctional family. Extra-familial ACEs included physical violence or negative recognition by teachers, being bullied in elementary or junior high school, or sexual violence. RESULTS: The frequency of psychosomatic disorders among the respondents was 14.8%. Among the 7 intra-familial ACEs, emotional abuse (relative risk, RR = 1.9) and illness in household (RR = 1.7) increased the risk of psychosomatic disorders. Estimates of the relative risk for the 5 extra-familial ACEs were statistically significant and ranged from 1.5 for being bullied in elementary school or physical violence from teachers to 2.4. Students who had 3 or more intra-familial ACEs and 2 or more extra-familial ACEs had a 3.0 relative risk for psychosomatic disorder. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that intra- and extra-familial ACEs are associated with the development of psychosomatic disorders. Therefore, sufficient evaluation of ACEs should be performed in adolescent patients with psychosomatic disorder

Psychosomatic problems and countermeasures in Japanese children and adolescents

In Japan there are a number of children and adolescents with emotion-related disorders including psychosomatic diseases (orthostatic dysregulation, anorexia nervosa, recurrent pains), behavior problems and school absenteeism. According to our previous report, the Japanese children had significantly higher score of physical symptoms and psychiatric complaints than did the Swedish children, and these were more strongly influenced by school-related stress than by home-related stress. To enforce countermeasures for psychosomatic problems in children, the Japanese Society of Psychosomatic Pediatrics (established in 1982) have started several new projects including multi-center psychosomatic researches and society-based activities. In this article, we present an outline of our study on mental health in Japanese children in comparison with Swedish children. Countermeasures including clinical guidelines for child psychosomatic diseases are reviewed and discussed

MULTIDIMENSIONAL EFFECTS OF SHIRODHARA ON PSYCHO-SOMATIC AXIS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS

Now-a-days many clinical conditions of different physiological systems becoming psychosomatic in nature, may be because of modern day living. Psychosomatic disorders represent a therapeutic enigma. Despite compelling evidence to suggest the integrity of mind and body, humans are famously prone to experiencing them as separate. Ayurveda essentially sees every disease as a psychosomatic manifestation and views the mind and body as two aspects of one unity. Considering the involvement of Hypothalamico-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA Axis) in most of the psychosomatic disorders; an attempt is made to use the word Psychosomatic axis in synonymous with HPA axis/Shatchakras. Shirodhara, an icon of Ayurveda in global scenario, is the pouring of warm herbal oil over the forehead in a pendulous manner. This treatment rejuvenates the nervous system, releases emotions, opens the subtle channels and unfolds bliss throughout the mind and body. This paper explores the advanced understanding of Shirodhara and its role in prevention and treatment of psychosomatic disorders and promotion of mental health &amp; in turn to emphasize its importance in current day practice

Healthy body, healthy mind?

The field of psychosomatic medicine has clearly established the idea that how we think and feel will affect the functioning of the body. What we do with our bodies may also affect how we think and feel, but this somatopsychic approach is less well established. This article aims to review what is known about the effects of physical activity on psychological function, and raise awareness of this research amongst psychologists