[Psychophysiologic approaches in the etiology and therapy of psychosomatic disorders]

Psychosomatic phenomena were considered within the framework of psychophysiology and general stress research. Startingpoint for an adequate understanding and interpretation of etiology and symptom-specifity of psychosomatic diseases are neurophysiologic-endocrinologic and psychodynamic findings. The familiarity with the concept of the specifity-of-attitude-hypotheses is important, too. Concerning the described etiologic hypotheses three psychotherapeutic procedures are demonstrated: 1) Relaxation trainings combined with biofeedback techniques, 2) rational-emotive therapy, 3) social-skill training. Furthermore it is referred to the clinical importance of slow cortical potentials (contingent negative variation--CNV) as central nervous correlates of information processes in the treatment of anxiety and hyperactivation of the autonomous system in stress situations. Prognostic criteria and indication for different treatment procedures of psychosomatic disorders were discussed.