2013 09 30 evening program gp 2 eric hoencamp. the fallacy of seperating somatic and psychological symptoms -1
1. The fallacy of separating somatic and
psychological symptoms.
September 30 , 2013
St. Maarten
Erik Hoencamp
2. Two realities
• Split in classification and treatment of somatic or
psychological symptoms.
• Leading to split between professionals, research, training
curricula and financing of care.
• While
• They co-occur in many clinical situations.
• With regard to genetic vulnerability , environmental risk
and protective factors they have the same etiological
underpinning.
3. Conceptual background
• Gene * environment Interaction.
• Examples of disease/phenotype
Depression<> Cardiovascular Disorders
Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia<> metabolic syndrome.
• Childhood Adversity as an environmental
factor
7. Depression & Cardiovascular disease
• Share genetic vulnerability and
environmental component.
• In clinical practice co-occur often , proper
treatment of depression enhances life
expectancy. (psychotherapy ,
antidepressants, treatment CVA)
• NB depends on definition Major
Depressive Disorder.
13. So, related are
• Depression <>Cardiovascular Disorder.
(Genetic component)
• Schizophrenia /Bipolar Disorder<>
Metabolic syndrome. (Genetic component)
• Childhood Adversity (environmental
component)<> Depression
&Cardiovascular Disorder
14. Is there a common denominator
in the pathogenesis ?
• Epigenetic changes in gene expression
• Stress regulation functioning HPA-axis
• Aberrant Inflammatory processes
• Disruptive Bio-rhythms
• Microbiome ?
• Socio-economic risk and protective
factors.
15. Domains or levels of expression of pathology
Social , economic, political situation.
Life events risk and protective factors
Behaviour
Emotional , cognitive and physical well being .
Physical functioning and patho-fysiological processes
Structural and functional integrity of body >> vulnerability and/or acquired
disorders, disease.
Pathology is
perceived
here in the
social
context.
16. Pathology “ X “ and attributed causality.
Social , economic, political situation, Life events risk and protective factors
Behavior
Emotional , cognitive and physical well being .
Physical functioning and patho-fysiological processes
Structural and functional integrity of body >> vulnerability and/or acquired
disorders, disease.
Pathology is
perceived
here in the
social
context
Pathology X
Somatic Psychological
17. Pitfalls separating psychopathology and somatic
pathology
• Psychopathology implies that the
phenotype/disease is caused by
“psychological” factors.
• Somatic pathology implies that it is caused
by an underlying disease.
• Neither is true and leads to strange
situations what is a “ real “ disease
example whiplash , CFD, ..
18. What are practical the consequences
• Image : psychopathology, remains having a negative
odium and easily leads to stigmatization and rejection.
Religious, ideological and political factors play a role in
these processes.
• Research and treatment: A fundamental change is
needed and slowly in progress where somatic and
psychological symptomatology and their relation are
taken into account with regard to etiology and treatment.
• Training curricula should be adapted and give more
background about both psychological and biological
aspects of disease.
• Our own attitude : well intended we may contribute to
stigmatization, by treating patients different with
psychopathology leading to dependency and lack of self
fulfillment and empowerment.
• Organization of health care services , Challenge to
increase cost effectiveness of health care .