Psychosomatic illnesses are considered an embarrassing subject – a kind of proof that the person is crazy or just looking for an excuse not to function in daily life and even win sympathy and concern from those around him. But Dr. Susan O'Sullivan, a respected British neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, has devoted her career to the study of psychosomatic disorders, and in an interview with Live Science she says their prevailing perception is fundamentally wrong. We used ChatGPT to summarize O'Sullivan's words.
Over the past few centuries, psychosomatic illnesses have often been referred to as "hysteria," and the medical community has tended not to take them seriously. After all, how can you believe people who claim to feel pain and symptoms that no medical examination can find any trace of?
But Dr. O'Sullivan seeks to change the perception of psychosomatic illnesses, often confused with "functional disorders," in which patients also complain of physical symptoms without any medical explanation—but without any psychological component.
According to O'Sullivan, the notion that these are imaginary conditions, or less serious than their medically proven counterparts, is fundamentally wrong. She says there is now medical awareness of these conditions, but even the doctors treating them face ongoing doubts. The idea that patients "do it on purpose," or that psychosomatic symptoms are less severe than other diseases, contributes to the complexity of treating these disorders.
She emphasizes that a diagnosis of psychosomatic illness is not a last resort after exhausting all other options, but is based on positive characteristics (i.e., not what is not in it – medical evidence – but what is in it) specific to the disorder, similar to diagnosing any other medical condition based on symptomatic patterns.
She distinguishes between psychosomatic illness and hypochondria, which involves anxiety about developing a disease, sometimes without actual symptoms. Psychosomatic symptoms, on the other hand, are the opposite: they can manifest themselves without diagnosed anxiety or emotional symptoms, which means that it is the symptoms that interfere with the patient's functioning, and not the fear.
Dr. O'Sullivan recognizes that some people have a tendency to psychosomatic states. Patients she meets often present a spectrum of symptoms, seeking help from various specialists for pronounced physical manifestations. Understanding this vulnerability is key to understanding why people experience psychosomatic symptoms.
Looking ahead, O'Sullivan highlights the growing interest in understanding the brain mechanisms involved in psychosomatic illness. The study aims to clarify how stress and psychological factors can lead to physical symptoms, and to provide patients with a tangible understanding of their condition. However, despite advances in understanding mechanisms, the field is still grappling with the development of effective treatments. Current approaches often include short courses of speech therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). O'Sullivan notes that these treatments are limited, and advocates a multidisciplinary approach, tailored to the specific symptoms presented by the patient.
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