[Clinical psychosomatics: blood pressure regulation. Problem status from the systems theory viewpoint]

The systemic aspect which integrates the family as a whole to the diagnostic and therapeutical process becomes more and more important in Clinical Psychosomatics. The development of a sound relationship between the hypertensive patient and his physician and the degree to which the patient is able to accept the drug treatment seem to be influenced not only by the personality structure of the individual patients but also by the interaction pattern of the whole family. The possible influence exerted by the special interaction patterns of the family on the chronification and/or replication of essential hypertension is shown by 1) the obvious negative non-verbal communication behaviour 2) the low intensity of verbal communication and 3) the high need of control, the setting of rigid bounds and a great inflexibility to solve the existing problems.