Abstract
In pediatrics, we see the need for comprehensive and developmental medicine where the needs of the physical, mental and emotional being are treated as one and not separatd entities.We also notice that children are more influenced by physical and environmental factors than personal factors as shown in the adult. So pediatricians usually have interests and been involved in the field of prevention and consultation through health care clinics, well-baby clinics, child guidance clinics, institutes of handicapped children, school doctors, etc., and now pediatrician's works are expanding into the educational field. In Japan, pediatric psychosomatic medicine has not yet been fully developed as it should have.There are several reasons for this, which I would like to explain. First, the child develops with age, but is still immature compared to teh adult. Psychosomatic diseases in the narrow sense are associated with the fixation of symptoms in certain organs, but in the young, fixed disorders are only infrequently encountered, Second, research techniques specialized in pediatric psychosomatic medicine have not yet been developed. Third, psychosomatic clinics for children are not very well paid for in Japan. Fourth, we don't have teams of specialists organized to treat children from the psychosomatic view point in Japan. Lastly, some people say that pediatricians don't have the necessity of psychosomatic medicine because pediatricians usually maintain the idea of comprehensive medicine, and spend much time to the guidance of rearing and caring methods for children. I partialy agree with this opinion; hawever, I believe the psychosomatic approach in pediatrics is necessary to achieve healthy and happy lives for children, and to prevent psychosomatic disease in the adult. Therefore, we have organized the regular meetings in Japanese pediatric association to discuss and research in the practice of psychosomatic medicine.In conclusion, I would like to consider what we can contribute to comprehensive medicine as a pediatrician.1) Prophylaxis of diseases of adults.2) Research of the course of fixation and erpresentation of psychosomatic diseases.3) Comprehensive pediatrics will make children healthy and happy, and promote their healthy and happy life in the future.4) Comprehensive pediatrics are needed to give guidance to parents, and also to help teachers by giving advice on comprehensive education. These are essential roles of pediatricians.
