DO PSYCHIC FACTOR CONTRIBUTE TO IATROGENI C DISORDER

Behind iatrogenic disturbances caused by psychological factors lies th e dependence of present day medicine on the reductionist scientific pa radigm of the 18th century. The latter excludes psychological and soci al factors from the ''scientific equation''. Only absolute objectivity and neutrality in the observer, and the avoidance of personality and history in the patient, are held to be valid. The patient's individual reality, as influencing his individual physiology, is not considered. The results are errors in diagnosis (e.g. with patients suffering fro m chronic pain), abuse (including sexual) of women patients, and insuf ficient care of cancer patients. Psychological iatrogenic disturbances can be reduced by training medical students in biopsychosocial interr elations and by self-experience courses for physicians.