Abstract
In the last two decades, Psychosomatic Medicine in the USA has gone through a significant transition. Probably, the most notable of all is the elimination of the term "psychophysiological disorders" from DSM III. This has caused concern that DSM III has reduced the importance of Psychosomatic Medicine as an entity. More accurate is the fact that DSM III is reflecting change not only in Psychosomatic Medicine but also in psychiatry in general. Starting with a review of changes in the concept of, and approaches to, chronic pain in the last tow decades as a prototypic example, this paper discusses the current status of Psychosomatic Medicine in the USA and its implications for Psychosomatic Medicine in Japan.
