psychosomatic
adjUK /ˌsaɪkəʊsəˈmætɪk/ · US /ˌsaɪkoʊsəˈmædɪk/
Etymology From psycho- + somatic.
1
Archaic Pertaining to both the mind and the body.
2
Human sciences, Medicine, Psychology, Sciences Pertaining to physical diseases, symptoms etc. which have mental causes.
- Even the “unconscious” frequently prefers physical problems to psychological ones as suggested by the prevalence of psychosomatic ailments: physical symptoms--for example, stomach aches--caused by an emotional problem. It has been estimated that more than 50% of a physicians’ practice involves the treatment of psychosomatic complaints.2000 May 28, Peter Wolson, “A World of Psychophobia”, in Los Angeles Times, archived from the original on 10 May 2025:
- Derived terms
- nonpsychosomatic, psychosomatically, psychosomatician, psychosomaticist
- Related terms
- somatoform