Psychosomatic Medicine in a Changing Society

摘要: The scope of psychosomatic medicine has broadened to a point where people begin wonder what the limits its boundaries are. A puzzled observer asks: “Has any limits? If so, and why? not, term outlived usefulness, being neither definable nor even describable?” These are valid questions. There is justification in talking about second phase development our discipline,2 one whose growing diversity makes attempts at integration difficult but necessary if we maintain identity sense direction. This writer formulated comprehensive definition reflecting both scientific clinical aspects.2 It expresses conception field as main goal twofold: strive for unified theory mind-body-environment interrelations; apply knowledge gain improve care sick, help prevent some illness, ultimately enhance quality human existence. We do not need be too concerned with sharp delimitation field. To so might lead premature closure on many promising lines unorthodox thought. would mean missing an opportunity intellectual challenge constructing from elements supplied by disparate methods observation explanatory systems. meet this challenge, however, ecological perspective must added traditional focus discipline.