[Pediatric psychosomatic medicine: where did we come from? What is our status? Where are we going?]

Historical development of pediatric psychosomatics from psychodiagnostics to individual-centered psychotherapy and recently to family oriented and systemic therapy is outlined in the example of our own development and that of our department. In classical psychosomatics dualism in medicine is kept alive by considering only so-called "psychosomatic diseases". At present, there is need for a new and more complex model in medicine: The bio-psycho-social model in medicine puts emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of psychological and social factors in the genesis, course and outcome of every disease. Especially in pediatrics this model should be favored. Some consequences for treatment, research and medical education are proposed. Finally we touch on the new potentials of systemic family therapy.