Psychosomatic studies of Japanese youth under social changes. An overview

Psychosomatic studies of adolescent patients were conducted at the Kyushu University Hospital. Among many adolescent psychosomatic disorders, the incidence of irritable colon syndrome ranked first. The dynamic mechanisms and therapeutic results of these patients were introduced. Next, an epidemiological study showed that the frequency of constipation and diarrhea rapidly increases over the period from junior high school to senior high school. Through matched pair studies conducted with high school students, significant interrelationships were proven to exist among the occurrence of diarrhea and constipation, awareness of illness and psychological factors.