APPLIED PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY - A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE BIOMEDICAL MODEL AND THE BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL IN FAMILY MEDICINE

Over half of all patient visits to primary care physicians are related to psychosocial problems that are presented as common somatic complai nts. It appears that psychophysiological diagnostic and therapeutic me thods can directly, objectively, and quantitatively reveal this missin g mind-body connection. Psychophysiological methods, including biofeed back, hypnosis, and cognitive behavior therapy, have been shown to be empirically effective with several somatic conditions even though the specific mechanisms of efficacy of these therapies have not been ident ified. The classification, diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of stres s-related disease and somatization disorder require a psychophysiologi cal approach and can most effectively be conducted in a nonpsychiatric primary care setting.