THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS
THE ROLE OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS

Summary/Abstract: The present paper is meant to emphasize on the one hand the connection between how the mind worksand the specific diseases a person might suffer from and on the other hand the relation betweenpsychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy. Both of them are wide interdisciplinary fields of knowledge.Whereas the psychosomatic medicine is concerned with the interaction of biological, psychological, andsocial factors in regulating the balance between health and disease, psychotherapy in general andcognitive-behavioural therapy in particular helps patients learn new ways to cope with and solve theirproblems as they gain a deeper understanding of their condition or circumstances. Patients also learn toset realistic life goals and identify and change patterns of behaviours or thoughts that have negativeeffects on their health and lives. The common elements of both fields should be the personalized andholistic approach to the patient, adding psychosocial assessment to the standard medical examination andthe integration of psychological and psychiatric therapies in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitationof medical disease. Different psychotherapeutic techniques from cognitive-behavioural therapy have beenbrought forth in this paper. They have been applied to medical patients in controlled investigations (areasthat have been extensively explored are cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, neurologicaldisorders, chronic pain, diabetes, and cancer).The conclusion of this study is that these interventions mayimprove lifestyle and self-management, treatment adherence, coping, quality of life, distress (especiallydepression and anxiety), course of physical illness, and reduction in utilization of medical services.

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