Conversion, dissociation and somatization disorder in affect psychology - Determination of the concept - Differential diagnosis and theoretical background of three important psychosomatic syndromes

Psychosomatic syndroms play an important role in OECD-Countries. The diagno stic featuring in ICD-10 or DSM-IV are merely descriptive only and do not r efer sufficiently to the psychological mechanisms beyond. To classify and t o understand psychosomatic syndrome three aspects are required: First, spec ification of the socialisation of affect-profiles; second, the symptoms and signs refer as an attempt to protect and preserve the identity via a patho logical body image; third an interactional point of view is required. Some clinical examples are given.