2021 Volume 61 Issue 5 Pages 434-442
Rheumatic diseases are chronic inflammatory diseases caused by abnormalities in immune response, such as autoimmunity and allergy. Fibromyalgia, a functional rheumatic disease, is a model disease of chronic pain and psychosomatic disorders.
Multiple factors such as genetic and environmental factors and mental and physical stressors are related to the onset and course of rheumatic diseases. Psychosomatic viewpoints are required for the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of the pathological state of these diseases.
While these diseases have a common pathophysiology across races and ethnic groups, there are various ways of acceptance and attitudes toward them.
To see the global trend, it is important to promote the international and mutual exchange of information.
I have been involved in the clinical practice of rheumatic diseases, especially fibromyalgia, from a specialized standpoint in rheumatology and psychosomatic medicine. I have gained psychosomatic knowledge through studying in the United States, attending international conferences, and interacting with colleagues from the German College of Psychosomatic Medicine.
In Japan, ad hoc groups from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Japanese Society of Fibromyalgia Investigation, and the patients' association have been established. Each has shown unique development in respecting the importance of psychosomatic viewpoints. However, regrettably, the dissemination of these results abroad is not yet sufficient. In the future, we would like to promote the internationalization of psychosomatic medicine in Japan with the participation of more colleagues.
