psychosomatic illness

illness

[il´nes] disease.folk illness the experience of symptoms that are not identifiable with biomedical categories of disease; causes include natural forces, supernatural factors, interpersonal factors, and emotions. An example is susto, which is a Hispanic term for fright caused by a traumatic experience. Symptoms include listlessness, loss of appetite, and withdrawal. Curanderos (folk healers) treat the illness with prayers, rituals, and laying on of hands.psychosomatic illness somatoform disorder" >somatoform disorder.

psychosomatic

[si″ko-so-mat´ik] pertaining to the interrelations of mind and body; having bodily symptoms of psychic, emotional, or mental origin.psychosomatic disorder (psychosomatic illness) a disorder in which the physical symptoms are caused or exacerbated by psychological factors, such as migraine headache, lower back pain, or irritable bowel syndrome; see also somatoform disorders. It is now recognized that emotional factors play a role in the development of nearly all organic illnesses and that the physical symptoms experienced by the patient are related to many interdependent factors, including psychological and cultural. The physical manifestations of an illness, unless caused by mechanical trauma, cannot be divorced from a person's emotional life. Each person responds in a unique way to stress; emotions affect one's sensitivity to trauma and to irritating elements in the environment, susceptibility to infection, and ability to recover from the effects of illness. Physical conditions to which psychological factors are shown to be contributory are currently classified as psychological factors affecting medical condition. Any physical condition can be so classified, but the most frequently included are asthma, peptic ulcer, bowel disorders, cardiovascular disorders, arthritis, allergy, headache, and certain endocrine disorders. In recent years there has been some success in using behavior therapy to treat these and other illnesses whose symptoms are related to the autonomic nervous system. Clients are taught new ways of coping with stress and new patterns of behavior. Among the techniques used are biofeedback, relaxation training, conditioning" >classical conditioning, and conditioning" >operant conditioning using social and material reinforcement.

illness

(il'nis) 1. Sickness; disease. 2. An ailment.

catabolic illness

Rapid weight loss with loss of body fat and muscle mass that frequently accompanies short-term, self-limiting conditions such as infection or injury. This condition may be associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, multiple organ system failure, and chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer.

Treatment

Inflammation should be reduced and appropriate nutrients provided.

catastrophic illness

An unusually prolonged or complex illness, esp. one that causes severe organ dysfunction or threatens life. Catastrophic illnesses often make exceptional demands on patients, caregivers, families, and health care resources.

decompression illness

Aeroembolism due to an excessively rapid ascent to the surface by a deep-sea diver. Synonym: bends; caisson disease; Synonym: diver's palsy See: aeroembolism

Treatment

Affected patients should be transported to specialized treatment centers where recompression or hyperbaric chambers are available.

folk illness

A disease or condition found only in specific societies, ethnic groups, or cultures. Often the culture has causal explanations for these illnesses, as well as preventive and treatment measures. Well-known examples are present in the Hispanic American culture (e.g., empacho, caida de mollera, mal de ojo, susto). These are diagnosed and treated by folk healers called curanderos. Some other examples of folk illnesses include amok and piblokto, though numerous other examples exist within multiple cultures. See: amok; piblokto

functional illness

Functional disease.

heat illness

A general term used to describe the harmful effects on the human body of being exposed to high temperature and/or humidity. See: tableheat cramp; heat exhaustion for table; heatstroke; syncope

influenza-like illness

Abbreviation: ILI
Any disease of the respiratory tract that causes cough, fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, and fatigue. ILI can be caused by rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, coronaviruses, adenoviruses, rickettsia, and other infectious microorganisms.

mass psychogenic illness

Mass sociogenic illness.

mass sociogenic illness

Abbreviation: MSI
An unexplained, self-limiting illness characterized by nonspecific symptoms among people in a social setting such as a school, workplace, church, or military group. The onset is usually rapid and may occur after an unusual or peculiar odor is detected. Symptoms may include dizziness, weakness, headache, abdominal pain, rash, itching, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting, and fainting. There are no laboratory studies to confirm an etiologic agent. Resolution of the mass illness may occur when those affected are reassured that it is not due to a toxic substance or disease. Synonym: mass psychogenic illness

mental illness

Any disorder that affects mood or behavior.

occupational illness

Any acute or chronic disorder associated with or caused by an individual's occupation. See: table; chronic lead poisoning

Condition	Exposed Workers
Anemia	Lead (battery reclaimers, shipyard workers)
Asbestosis	Shipyard workers and others exposed to asbestos fibers
Asthma	Meat wrappers, woodworkers, those exposed to platinum, nickel, solder, ammonia, cotton dust, formaldehyde, pesticides
Byssinosis	Cotton textile workers
Cancer	People who work with radioactive materials (health care, lab workers), x-ray workers (industrial and health care), miners
Carpal tunnel syndrome	Typists, computer programmers, and other people who work with their hands
Contact dermatitis	Health care workers using latex gloves, and florists
Decompression sickness	Divers, marine salvage workers
Hearing impairment	People who work in noisy environments without adequate ear protection
Leptospirosis	Veterinarians
Pneumoconiosis	Coal miners
Pneumonitis	Wood workers (esp. red cedar), mushroom growers, cheese handlers, and farmers
Silicosis	Miners, foundry workers
Skin granulomas	Beryllium workers (e.g., in auto or aircraft industries)
Tennis or golfer's elbow	Carpenters, plumbers, and athletes
Vibration syndrome, including Raynaud's phenomenon	Truck drivers, hand-vibrating drill operators, jackhammer workers

SOURCE: Starkey, C, Brown, S, and Ryan, J: Examination of Orthopedic and Athletic Injuries, ed 3, FA Davis, Philadelphia, 2010. *As determined by the rectal temperature ** Within normal limits for an exercising athlete

Evaluation Finding	Heat Cramps	Heat Syncope	Heat Exhaustion	Heat Stroke
Hydration Status	Dehydrated	Dehydrated	Dehydrated	Dehydrated
Core Temperature*	Within normal limits**	Within normal limits	102° – 104°F (38.9° – 40°C)	Greater than 104°F (40°C)
Skin Color and Temperature	Within normal limits	Within normal limits	Cool/clammy	Hot
Pale	Red
Pulse	Within normal limits	Decreased	Rapid and weak	Increased
Blood Pressure	Within normal limits	A sudden, imperceptible drop in blood pressure, which rapidly returns to normal	Low	High
Respiration	Within normal limits	Within normal limits	Hyperventilation	Rapid hyperventilation
Mental State	Within normal limits	Fatigue	Dizziness	Dizziness
Possible fatigue	Dizziness	Fatigue	Drowsiness
	Fainting	Slight confusion	Confusion/ disorientation
		Emotional instability
Violent Behavoir
Neuromuscular Changes	Cramping in one or more muscles		Muscle cramps	Weakness
Weakness	Decerebrate posture
Gastrointestinal and Urinary Changes			Intestinal Cramping	Nausea
Nausea	Vomiting
Vomiting	Diarrhea
Diarrhea
Decreased Urinary output
Central Nervous System			Syncope	Headache
Headache	Unconsciousness
	Seizures
	Coma
Other Findings	Thirst	“Tunnel vision” may be reported	Thirst	Dilated pupils
		Loss of appetite (anorexia)
		Chills

psychosomatic illness

See: somatoform disorder

Southern tick–associated rash illness

See: Southern tick–associated rash illness

terminal illness

A final, fatal illness.

Patient care

The health care professional supports the patient and family by anticipating their loss and grief and helps the patient to deal with fear, pain and suffering, hopelessness, dependency, disability, loss of self-esteem, and loss of pleasure. Hospice care is provided if desired and available. The patient receives caring comfort and help in adjusting to decreased quality of life to ensure that death occurs with dignity.