A psychosomatic disorder is any physical condition that stress can help cause or make worse. Stress impacts our bodies in many ways and can affect several physical conditions, from heart disease to eczema. Stress management can go a long way to help manage psychosomatic disorders.

Overview

What is a psychosomatic disorder?

A psychosomatic disorder happens when mental stress and distress cause or make a physical condition — and its symptoms — worse.

“Psycho” means “relating to the mind.” “Somatic” means “relating to the body.”

Types of psychosomatic disorders

In modern medicine, researchers debate the number of physical conditions — if any — that are truly the result of only stress and distress. This is because the majority of conditions have several factors that cause them — our bodies are very complex.

In the past, healthcare providers thought that stress caused conditions like tuberculosis and stomach ulcers. But advances in scientific research have shown that this isn’t true. (The bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes tuberculosis, and H. pylori infection causes stomach ulcers.)

Providers do recognize that many physical diseases involve psychosomatic factors, and that stress often makes them worse. Some of these conditions include:

What’s the difference between a psychosomatic disorder and somatic symptom disorder?

Psychosomatic disorder and somatic symptom disorder both involve a combination of psychological issues and physical symptoms or conditions. But their cause-and-effect relationships are different.

Somatic symptom disorder happens when you have an extreme focus on physical symptoms, like pain, that causes major distress or problems with daily functioning. A psychosomatic disorder happens when stress makes physical conditions worse.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA)’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recognizes somatic symptom disorder as a condition. It doesn’t recognize psychosomatic disorder as a condition.

Symptoms and Causes

A psychosomatic disorder happens when mental stress and distress cause or make a physical condition and its symptoms worse.

What are the symptoms of a psychosomatic disorder?

The symptoms of a psychosomatic disorder vary based on the underlying physical condition.

For example, if you have diabetes, stress may raise your blood sugar levels or make them more difficult to manage. Stress and anxiety can cause flare-ups if you have digestive issues, leading to diarrhea, bloating, constipation or abdominal discomfort.

Physical signs and symptoms of stress specifically include:

Stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms like:

  • Feeling overwhelmed.
  • Anxiety or irritability.
  • Depression.

What causes psychosomatic disorders?

Some people are more emotionally and physiologically sensitive to stress. They may be more likely to have psychosomatic disorders. When you experience stress, it causes the following changes in your body:

Most people can physically and mentally tolerate brief episodes of stress. But chronic or severe stress causes wear and tear on your body and mind if you’re naturally more reactive to stress. These bodily changes happen frequently and/or last longer than they should and damage body systems.

Researchers think many factors make a person more vulnerable to psychosomatic disorders and the effects of stress, including:

  • Genetics.
  • Personality traits.
  • Environmental and biological factors.

Diagnosis and Tests

How is a psychosomatic disorder diagnosed?

There are no specific criteria that healthcare providers use to diagnose a psychosomatic disorder. If you have a physical condition that stress can affect, like heart disease or gastrointestinal issues, your provider may ask you about your stress level to see if it could be affecting your physical health.

Stress is subjective. Only you can determine whether it’s present and how severe it feels. Your provider may use questionnaires to understand your stress and how it affects your life. They may recommend strategies for managing stress to try to lessen its effect on your symptoms.

Management and Treatment

How is a psychosomatic disorder treated?

Each physical condition that stress may contribute to or worsen has its own treatment. But your healthcare provider may recommend therapies to manage your stress specifically. These include:

They may give you a referral to a specialist in mental health (like a psychiatrist or psychologist) and recommend regular checkups with your primary care provider.

Outlook / Prognosis

What is the outlook for people with psychosomatic disorder?

Many people learn to manage and lessen somatic pain symptoms over time. However, even with treatment, psychosomatic symptoms may come and go throughout life.

Prevention

Can I prevent psychosomatic disorder?

Some people are genetically more sensitive to stress. There’s nothing you can do to prevent psychosomatic effects in that regard.

But there are strategies to reduce and manage stress, which may help you prevent or lessen physical symptoms of a condition. Examples include:

  • Be realistic about what you can and can’t control.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Get enough sleep.
  • Journal to increase awareness of your thoughts and feelings.
  • Limit alcohol and avoid smoking and other substance use.
  • Eat healthy foods.
  • Maintain a weight that’s healthy for you.
  • Meditate or practice progressive muscle relaxation.
  • Seek support from loved ones.
  • Set limits and boundaries to reduce pressure on yourself.

Living With

When should I see my healthcare provider about a psychosomatic disorder?

Stress can affect your body in many ways. So, it’s important to see your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing chronic or severe stress, especially if you have a chronic physical condition, like heart disease or diabetes.

What questions should I ask my healthcare provider?

If you’re experiencing a lot of stress and have a physical condition, it may be helpful to ask your provider the following questions:

  • How is stress affecting my condition?
  • Does chronic stress put me at risk for other conditions?
  • How can I manage my stress?
  • Do you have a referral for a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist?
  • How can I better manage my physical condition?

Additional Common Questions

What’s the difference between psychosomatic disorder and hypochondria?

Illness anxiety disorder (hypochondria) happens when you have an unrealistic fear that you have a serious medical condition or that you’re at high risk of becoming ill. You may misinterpret typical body functions as signs of illness.

A psychosomatic disorder happens when stress — which may or may not be related to physical ailments — makes a physical condition worse.

A note from Wockr

If you’re experiencing chronic or severe stress, it’s always a good idea to see your healthcare provider. Stress can affect your physical — and mental — health in several ways. While it’s unlikely that stress is the sole cause of a physical condition, there’s no doubt that it can contribute to or worsen many conditions. Talk to your provider about ways to manage your stress and improve your physical health. They’re available to help.