Somatopsychic disorder - specialists and information

A somatopsychic disorder develops as a reaction to severe or chronic physical illnesses, such as cancer or diabetes mellitus. Those affected have a high psychological and social burden due to the physical illness. They also suffer from depression or anxiety disorders. A somatopsychic disorder is therefore also known as an illness processing disorder.

Below you will find further information and selected specialists for somatopsychic disorders.

What is a somatopsychic disorder?

Somatopsychic disorders are illness processing disorders that occur in the following illnesses:

Cancer
transplants
Dialysis and
Chronic somatic diseases

The triggering chronic illnesses can be a variety of illnesses such as

• Vascular diseases (heart attack, stroke)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Chronic skin diseases or
• Rheumatic diseases

A somatopsychic disorder is usually coded according to F diagnoses plus a somatic diagnosis.

The F diagnoses are, for example

• F 33 (Recurrent depressive disorder)
• F 34(Persistent affective disorders)
• F 40-41(anxiety disorders) or
• F 42(obsessive-compulsive disorder)

Coping requirements for chronic illnesses

Chronic illnesses present those affected with a variety of psychological and social challenges:

• Emotional coping with the internal and external threat and the associated feelings
• Uncertainties regarding social roles and tasks (changes in relationships with family, friends and working life)
• Medical adjustment, relationship with medical staff, new environment during hospitalization, impact of therapy
• Self-integrity and well-being should be developed or maintained as well as possible
• A changed new self-image with an uncertain future with regard to the course of the disease must be developed

Psychotherapy can help those affectedto cope with the consequences of the physical illness and reduce stress symptoms @ Photographee.eu /AdobeStock

Psychological consequences of a chronic illness

The internal psychological consequences of a chronic illness can be

• Narcissistic offense (anxiety, shame, depression): "I (my body) am no longer worth anything"
• Fear of losing a relationship (anxiety, depression, guilt): "I will lose my job, my friends, my partner"
• Denial (severity of the illness): "It's not that bad" - Dependence on caregivers - "I can do it alone - I need others"
• Processing anger and disappointment: "Why me" - "I have to control myself, otherwise I'll alienate others"

Some patients experience a grieving process in addition to the limitations caused by the physical illness. A further proportion of patients also experience mental disorders, in particular

• Depressive disorders and
• anxiety disorders (adjustment disorders, reactive depression)

Differential diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders in physically ill patients

Doctors must differentiate betweensymptoms that can be traced back to the physical illness and depressive symptoms.

These can be

• Weight loss
• insomnia
• listlessness and
• listlessness

If depressive disorders are the result of an organic illness/treatment, the following measures are in the foreground:

• Causal treatment
• Psychopharmacological treatment
• Supportive medical consultations

If depression is a reaction to the illness (adjustment disorder), the focus is on medical psychotherapy through to specialist psychotherapy.

Depressive disorders that were already present before the illness require treatment depending on their severity:

• Medical psychotherapy
• Specialist psychotherapy
• Psychopharmacological treatment

If there is a multi-causal disorder, e.g. if an HIV patient develops a central nervous system disorder, medication can provide support.

Patients often abuse addictive substances and medication to escape the physical and psychological effects of the disease (e.g. benzodiazepines).

In these cases, the following measures are recommended:

• Withdrawal and cessation therapy
• Specialist psychotherapy

Therapy may include support in coping with the illness, e.g. through

• Information and medical consultation
• self-help groups
• social support
• Group therapy with coping training
• Supportive psychotherapies

Self-help groups offer important support for somatopsychological disorders @ Framestock /AdobeStock

Example: Coping with cancer

One example of a somatopsychological disorder is coping with cancer. Developing cancer usually means an existential life crisis for those affected and their relatives.

The subjective experience of illness is characterized by

• Threat of death
• Uncertainty of the course of the disease
• Loss of organs, body parts and functions

Intervening treatment measures that help and heal on the one hand, but mutilate, poison, irradiate or burn on the other

Due to the success of cancer treatment, the following goals are predominant:

• Coping with the disease for those affected and their relatives
• Subjective adjustment to reality and the
• Active confrontation with it
• Cooperation with professional helpers

In almost 50 percent of cases of malignant cancer, psychosomatic illnesses are also found, which manifest themselves as follows:

• Depression
• adjustment disorders
• anxiety disorders and
• personality disorders

Experts have not yet been able to identify a "cancer personality". The aforementioned personality factors are relevant for coping with the disease, willingness to cooperate and secondary prevention.

The same guidelines apply to psychotherapeutic treatment as for chronic illnesses.