Psychogenic disease
Encyclopedia
A psychogenic disease is a set of symptoms or complaints whose origin likely lies within the complex interactions of the frontal lobes of the brain and the system in which the complaint manifests. These disorders can often result from mental
or emotional conflict.
In most cases, a structural or anatomical abnormality has not been identified, as seen in an organic disease
, however this does not account for possible genetic, biochemical, electrophysiological or other abnormalities that may be present but for which we do not have the technology or background to identify. The traditional duality that divided mind from body is no longer accepted by the mainstream of science.
There is a multitude of evidence to implicate the frontal lobes of the brain, where the most complex aspects of cognition, personality, mood, and memory are processed, as the mediators if not the source of psychogenic complaints.
Psychogenic is a broader category than psychosomatic, in that it can include the hysterical
form, where there is no physiologic change in peripheral tissues, as well as the psychosomatic form, where there is some physiologic alteration.
Psychogenic fever is one of the most common psychosomatic diseases. Patients with psychogenic fever have acute or persistent body temperature above normal range in psychologically stressful situations. In spite of numerous case reports on psychogenic fever, there are few epidemiological studies (Biopsychosoc Med. 2007).
Sometimes psychogenic fever may occur. It usually happens in patients with psychopathology. In these cases the frequency of heart beats, even at high temperatures, increase only slightly.
(Pathophysiology, Principles of Diseases 1995 Academic Electronic Press)
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
or emotional conflict.
In most cases, a structural or anatomical abnormality has not been identified, as seen in an organic disease
Organic disease
An organic disease is one which involves or affects physiology or bodily organs. A disease in which there is a physiological change to some tissue or organ of the body....
, however this does not account for possible genetic, biochemical, electrophysiological or other abnormalities that may be present but for which we do not have the technology or background to identify. The traditional duality that divided mind from body is no longer accepted by the mainstream of science.
There is a multitude of evidence to implicate the frontal lobes of the brain, where the most complex aspects of cognition, personality, mood, and memory are processed, as the mediators if not the source of psychogenic complaints.
Psychogenic is a broader category than psychosomatic, in that it can include the hysterical
Hysteria
Hysteria, in its colloquial use, describes unmanageable emotional excesses. People who are "hysterical" often lose self-control due to an overwhelming fear that may be caused by multiple events in one's past that involved some sort of severe conflict; the fear can be centered on a body part, or,...
form, where there is no physiologic change in peripheral tissues, as well as the psychosomatic form, where there is some physiologic alteration.
Psychogenic fever is one of the most common psychosomatic diseases. Patients with psychogenic fever have acute or persistent body temperature above normal range in psychologically stressful situations. In spite of numerous case reports on psychogenic fever, there are few epidemiological studies (Biopsychosoc Med. 2007).
Sometimes psychogenic fever may occur. It usually happens in patients with psychopathology. In these cases the frequency of heart beats, even at high temperatures, increase only slightly.
(Pathophysiology, Principles of Diseases 1995 Academic Electronic Press)
See also
- Functional symptomFunctional symptomA functional symptom is a medical symptom in an individual which is very broadly conceived as arising from a problem in nervous system 'functioning' and not due to a structural or pathologically defined disease cause...
- Psychogenic amnesiaPsychogenic amnesiaPsychogenic amnesia, also known as functional amnesia or dissociative amnesia, is a memory disorder characterized by extreme memory loss that is caused by extensive psychological stress and that cannot be attributed to a known neurobiological cause...
- Psychogenic painPsychogenic painPsychogenic pain, also called psychalgia, is physical pain that is caused, increased, or prolonged by mental, emotional, or behavioral factors.Headache, back pain, or stomach pain are some of the most common types of psychogenic pain...
- Psychological traumaPsychological traumaPsychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
- PsychoneuroimmunologyPsychoneuroimmunologyPsychoneuroimmunology is the study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body...
- Psychosomatic medicine