Psychosomatic disorders in developing countries: current issues and future challenges

This paper focuses on understanding of the concept, recent advances, and challenges to be faced in the field of psychosomatic disorders by the developing countries.

Changing health scenario in developing countries has led to imminent epidemic of noncommunicable diseases along with the unmet agenda of controlling infectious diseases. Psychosomatic medicine has a role to play in curtailing the upcoming epidemic. Research studies on psychosomatic disorders from developing countries are very few. Most of the publications are in nonpsychiatric medical journals covering explorative to intervention studies. Traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines such as ayurveda are already playing their role in the area of psychosomatic disorders in developing countries.

The role and responsibility of the psychiatrist is changing from treating major mental disorders to preventing and treating psychosomatic disorders. In this regard, developing countries have to meet various challenges such as development of manpower, training of medical and paramedical staff, funding resources for clinical practice and research, coordinating with complementary and alternative medicines, and networking with policy makers in combating the imminent epidemic.