Clinical Psychiatric Study of Psychogenic Pain

In the present study, the author examined clinical psychiatric characteristics in 26 patients who were diagnosed as having Pain Disorder, according to the 4th edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). The subjects were 7 males and 19 females. At the onset of pain, the mean age of the patients was 38.8 years. The most common site of pain was the head, followed by the back, arm, and shoulders. In 18 of the 26 patients, there was no evidence of pathological history at the sites where pain was experienced. The accompanying symptoms were insomnia, anxiety, decrease in appetite, analgesic dependence, depressed mood, and astasia-abasia. The author found that various defense mechanisms were acting in their psychological background and that their whole personality was involved in the occurrence of agony. A physician is required to use pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, or situational therapy depending upon patients\u27 conditions and defense mechanisms