The possibility of alleviating migraine headaches by autogenic relaxation training, with or without hand temperature biofeedback, was assessed. The study examined five independent groups in a bi-directional control group design. Volunteer migraine sufferers served as subjects, each participating for 12 weeks. The first four weeks of the study were…

Studied whether pubertal age affects reports of psychosomatic symptoms among 14- to 16-year-old girls. Considered whether differences in dating and alcohol use might be mediating factors in the relation between pubertal age and psychosomatic symptoms. Subjects were 935 Finnish eighth-grade pupils who completed questionnaires three times during a…

Responds to the critical evaluation of Coyne and Anderson in the previous article, of "Psychosomatic Families: Anorexia Nervosa in Context" (Minuchin, Rosman, and Baker). Asserts that indeed certain very specifically defined diabetic patients' physiological disturbance serves a function in their families, an assertion strongly supported by…

This article defines anorexia nervosa, explains physical and psychological problems caused by this disease, and emphasizes the role of health educators in preventing and diagnosing the problem. Class discussions on self-esteem, self-confidence, and coping with parents can be beneficial. (Author/PP)

A study evaluated the biomedical and psychometric efficacy of a University of Maryland program, "Controlling Stress and Tension". Results indicate that the program is having a positive effect on human health through stress management. (JN)

Seeks to assist college counselors and administrative personnel in identifying problems related to homesickness. A cognitively oriented theoretical base is used. Recommendations are made regarding structures and procedures for greater student retention. (Author/JC)

It is suggested in this literature review on the psychosomatic aspects of cancer that psychoanalytic interpretations which focused on intrapsychic elements have given way to considerations of rehabilitation and assistance with the complex emotional reactions of patients and their families to terminal illness and death. (Author/DB)

Tested hypothesis that the institutional nature of old-age homes increases depression in the elderly. Results provided no support that the aged are more depressed. Somatic complaints can be indicators of depression in the elderly if normative differences between young and old are taken into account. (Author)

Explores extent to which physicians in Israel serve as gatekeepers for treatment of psychosocial problems and have contact with social workers. Gatekeeping variables included large caseloads, specializing in family medicine, practicing in a rural location, and being under age 55. Social work contact variables were affiliation with the largest…

This paper is based on a study of how childhood trauma can be experienced in the body and the resources individuals have chosen to deal with that. Ten individuals (including myself) wrote stories showing how they had made sense of those experiences and found ways to heal. In this paper, I tell the story of that research, contextualising myself as…

School transition is a critical life event for many children. However, the effects of school transition on children's stress experiences reported in the literature have been inconsistent. The present study with 564 third- to sixth-graders compared the changes in experienced stress level and in somatic and psychological symptoms during the…

Both behavioral and cognitive coping strategies are determined by an individual's perception of the stressful stimuli. To investigate the relationship of an individual's usual coping style to differential responses to a behavioral or cognitive stressor in four response systems (heart rate, muscle tension, galvanic skin response, and subjective…

The psychosomatic theory of obesity assumes that binging, eating in response to emotional distress, is characteristic of obese individuals, yet experimental attempts to demonstrate binging have yielded weak support for this assumption. The incidence of binging was investigated by means of structured interviews on food habits with 41 male and 39…

Reviews of studies of four groups (business executives, lawyers, Army officers, and working women) which demonstrate the health-damaging effects of alienation in certain life situations show that, when under stress, members of these groups who feel alienated fall ill, medically and/or psychiatrically. Three models are described which may explain…

Differences were compared in the short-term and long-term responses of subjects with headache, insomnia, or hypertension to biofeedback training, relaxation, or a combination of both. Headache sufferers, insomniacs, and hypertensives were randomly assigned in equal numbers to biofeedback, relaxation training or a record-keeping control. Over 2…