Psychosomatic Medicine News and Research

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Psychosomatic medicine (PM) is a newly licensed subspecialty in the field of psychiatry; it is also known as consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry. C-L psychiatry provides knowledge, practice, and instruction in the relation between mental and physical illness. This field is associated with services like diagnosis, therapeutics and research of illnesses in this area. Hence it connects psychiatry and other medical specialties, so that physicians and psychiatrists can discuss how to best manage patients with psychosomatic illness.

Yoga lowers number of compounds in blood and reduces inflammation

Regularly practicing yoga exercises may lower a number of compounds in the blood and reduce the level of inflammation that normally rises because of both normal aging and stress, a new study has shown.

12 Jan 2010

Researchers mix active drug and placebo to maximize drug benefits for efficient treatment

Researchers used the placebo effect to successfully treat psoriasis patients with one quarter to one half of their usual dose of a widely used steroid medication, according to an early study published online today in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine.

23 Dec 2009

Study suggests physical activity influences depression and fatigue by increasing self-efficacy

Physical activity is known to reduce depression and fatigue in people struggling with chronic illness. A new study indicates that this effect stems from an individual's sense of mastery over - or belief in his or her ability to achieve - certain physical goals.

16 Dec 2009

Social isolation and stress can raise breast cancer risk

Social isolation and related stress could contribute to human breast cancer susceptibility, research from a rat model designed at the University of Chicago to identify environmental mechanisms contributing to cancer risk shows.

8 Dec 2009

Depressed people more likely to overstate the frequency of physical symptoms

New research shows people who feel depressed tend to recall having more physical symptoms than they actually experienced. The study indicates that depression -- not neuroticism -- is the cause of such over-reporting.

29 Oct 2009

Report on new psychoneuroendocrinology service in outpatient treatment

The value of interdisciplinary expertise has not been implemented in clinical practice. Based on a longstanding teamwork between endocrinologist and psychiatrist, the Authors designed a new outpatient clinic, called Psychoneuroendocrinology (PNE) Service, that applies current principles of psychosomatic medicine, such as the assessment of interacting biological and psychosocial factors in the course of disease.

20 Oct 2009

Current medical assessment not sufficient; clinimetric methods may improve final outcomes

In a paper published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Giovanni A. Fava (University of Bologna) and Nicoletta Sonino (University of Padova) summarize data which indicate that current medical assessment, by ignoring the psychosocial dimensions, is inadequate in most of medical encounters

19 Oct 2009

Programme trains 3,500 Bristish therapists in CBT

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine which opened today in Torino Lord Richard Layard, Professor at the London School of Economics, has provided data on the British experience concerned with Improved Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT).

28 Sep 2009

Psychoeducational program for wellbeing

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine in Torino, Italy, the state of the science of happiness has been discussed.

26 Sep 2009

Personal approach to psychological well-being

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine in Torino, Italy, Carol Ryff, Professor of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin, has described how, more than simply feeling happy, it is the personal approach to psychological well-being that matters.

26 Sep 2009

Issues in shared decision-making

At the World Congress on Psychosomatic Medicine which opened today in Torino, Tom Sensky, Professor of Psychiatry at the Imperial College in London, raised some very controversial issues as to the participation of patients in medical decision.

24 Sep 2009

Psychological therapy for breast cancer patients reduces blood inflammation levels

A psychological intervention for newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with symptoms of depression not only relieves patients' depression but also lowers indicators of inflammation in the blood.

1 Sep 2009

Enjoyable leisure activities tied to psychological and physical well-being

Taking time for leisure activities apart from the demands of work and other responsibilities helps people function better physically and mentally. In fact, the more time spent doing different types of enjoyable activities, the better a person's health tends to be, according to a new study.

28 Jul 2009

Obesity may reduce brain gray matter in postmenopausal women

Results from a small study of postmenopausal women suggest that obesity might relate to a reduced volume of gray matter in the brain. However, whether the results have relevance in a woman's day-to-day life is unclear.

18 Jun 2009

Couples cope in different ways following death of premature baby

Most parents who have lost a premature baby still hold the baby in a central place in their lives two to six years after the baby's death, physicians report in a new small study.

22 Apr 2009

Teenage stress carries forward to adulthood

Most of us remember our teenage years with a mix of fondness and relief. Fondness for the good memories, and relief that all that teenage stress, angst and drama - first love, gossip, SATs, fights with parents - is behind us.

11 Mar 2009

Zen meditation may reduce pain

Zen meditation - a centuries-old practice that can provide mental, physical and emotional balance - may reduce pain according to Université de Montréal researchers.

3 Feb 2009

Post-traumatic stress disorder causes early death from heart disease

Vietnam veterans who experienced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were twice as likely to die from heart disease as veterans without PTSD, a new Geisinger study finds.

8 Jul 2008

2nd Alzheimer's vaccine by AFFiRiS

The Viennese biotech company Affiris is today taking stock of the progress achieved to date in its clinical Alzheimer's vaccination programme. All the Alzheimer's patients treated so far as part of the toxicological trials have tolerated the treatment extremely well. As a result, Affiris is among the leading international centres in the race to develop the first causal immunotherapy for Alzheimer's disease.

17 Apr 2008