Salutogenesis and patient's power

Abstract

In comprehensive medicine, it is essential to comprehend patients on the biopsychosocial and existential level. In concrete methodology, it is required to take precise pathogenic and/or salutogenic approach and to provide such an approach timely. As to one of the main pillars of comprehensive medicine, namely “Finding of patient's resources and activation of them” is just the concept of salutogenesis. Here, “resources” are considered to be “patient's power” itself. In addition, to what degree the patient has SOC (sense of coherence: the attitude to manage his (or her) life or the sense of recognition of meaning of his (her) life) decides how well patient's resources can be utilized further to enhance patient's power. Having recognition of patient's power, both the therapist and the patient become aware of the resources (patient's power) in an inter-personal mutually independent relationship to activate them. In this respect, there is a great difference from the conventional approaches which are based on pathogenesis alone.

In this paper, I would like to describe a case of a 45-year-old woman I encountered. She had been suffering both somatically and psychologically from adverse reactions of a drug since her withdrawal of an antidepressant for about 10 years. Even during such a time, with her inherent rich resources as the base, she could grow her patient's power owing to the warmhearted listening to, acceptance of, and support for what she tells. As a result, although slow in tempo, she is now making her way toward her dream.