Somatic Symptoms after Psychological Trauma.
- Author:
Joo Eon PARK
1
;
Hyun Nie AHN
;
Won Hyoung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Psychiatry, Keyo Hospital, Uiwang, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Posttraumatic stress disorder;
Psychological trauma;
Somatic symptoms;
Somatization
- MeSH:
Abstracting and Indexing as Topic;
Autonomic Nervous System;
Central Nervous System;
Disasters;
Head;
Immune System;
Neck;
Psychological Trauma*;
Search Engine;
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic;
Thorax
- From:Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
2016;24(1):43-53
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: Somatic symptoms after the exposure of psychological trauma frequently developed. However, the somatic symptoms are not covered under the diagnostic criteria of posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD) in detail, although they are often associated with social and occupational functioning and patient-doctor relationships. The aim of this article is to highlight the potential mechanisms, the common manifestations, and the treatment of the somatic symptoms. METHODS: This article studied the somatic symptoms searched using academic search engines like PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, KoreaMed and KISS from the earliest available date of indexing to March 31, 2016. RESULTS: The mechanism of somatic symptoms after the exposure was described as psychological and physiological aspects. Psychological mechanism consisted of psychodynamic theory, cognitive behavioral theory, and others. Physiological mechanism involved changes in neuroendocrine and immune system, autonomic nervous system and central nervous system. Somatization associated with psychological trauma manifested various health conditions on head and neck, chest, abdominal, musculoskeletal, and dermatological and immune system. Few studies described the standardization of treatment for the somatic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and disaster behavioral health providers should think of the accompanying somatic symptoms during intervention of psychological trauma and PTSD. Further studies are needed on the somatic symptoms seen in psychological trauma and PTSD.
