Graves’ disease is associated with the onset of thyroid disease in relation to psychosocial factors such as severe stress. Additionally, in refractory cases, an association between psychosocial factors and the course of treatment has been suggested. Associations have been reported with life events, daily hassles, depression, neuroticism, alexithymia, and overadaptation. Depression and anxiety are often observed in Graves’ disease but these symptoms do not necessarily improve with the normalization of thyroid function, meaning that they cannot be explained solely by excess thyroid hormone. It is important to consider psychosomatic aspects in the treatment of Graves’ disease. In Hashimoto’s disease, it has been reported that hypothyroidism can cause depressive symptoms and is also associated with alexithymia, depression, and anxiety, suggesting the presence of a mind-body relationship. However, most studies have been conducted on a small number of cases, and further research in this regard is needed.

This paper discusses the importance of the mind-body relationship in diabetes and the role of psychosocial care. Diabetes patients often experience a substantial mental burden related to self-management, which can negatively affect its progression and control. In particular, diabetes-related distress and psychological burden lower patients’ quality of life and decrease their motivation for treatment. Additionally, diabetes patients often experience comorbid mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, which hinder self-care. The introduction of psychological care is considered to enhance patients’ self-efficacy and contribute to improved treatment outcomes and a reduced risk of complications. A comprehensive approach that incorporates psychosocial care is essential for diabetes treatment, and psychosomatic medicine plays a crucial role in its implementation.

In anorexia nervosa, a representative eating disorder, various physical complications such as dehydration, hypoglycemia, electrolyte abnormalities, and trace element deficiencies occur, leading to life-threatening conditions. Premorbid personality traits, such as anxiety and perfectionism, have been identified, and stressful events often play a role in the onset and course of the illness. In a state of emaciation, nervous system function declines, leading to the appearance of psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and obsession, making treatment even more difficult due to treatment resistance. No effective medication has previously been identified for anorexia nervosa, but evidence is emerging for drug therapies. Since 2017, cognitive behavioral therapy has been covered by insurance for the treatment of bulimia nervosa. Enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy has been reported to be effective in patients with anorexia nervosa. To provide effective treatment, it is important to view eating disorders as psychosomatic illnesses, understand their overall picture, and approach them comprehensively.

Obesity is considered to be a complex, multifactorial disease resulting from the interaction of genetic, environmental, physiological, biochemical, psychosocial, and behavioral factors. Although obesity is a physical disease, it can be considered a classic psychosomatic disorder because psychosocial factors are involved in its onset and course. Obesity is closely related to lifestyle habits, including eating behavior, which is particularly affected by stress in daily life. In addition, a high percentage of patients suffer from comorbid psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, eating, and sleep disorders. Recently, it has become clear that social prejudice and discrimination against people with obesity (obesity stigma) have more negative effects on mental health than obesity itself. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate not only the physical but also the psychosocial aspects of obesity and understand the interrelationship between the two, i. e., the psychosomatic correlation. It is also important to adopt a psychosomatic approach in the treatment of obesity.

Psychologists are expected to participate in team-based medicine. Some departments and fields have established many collaborative relationships, whereas others such as dentistry have not established many collaborative relationships. The following points are considered important when collaborating with other departments : understanding diseases and problems that need to be dealt with in the collaborating department, clarifying what kind of response can be provided from a professional standpoint, and having specialists in other departments understand the problems they must deal with and identify how to deal with them. In this study, we introduce a collaborative relationship with dentistry as an example.

There are far fewer psychologists working in otorhinolaryngology than in psychosomatic internal medicine or pediatrics. However, the role of psychologists is important, as many conditions in this field are psychologically painful and can significantly interfere with daily life.

At Keio University Hospital’s Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, a team-based approach distinguishes their care. Dedicated nurses, clinical laboratory technicians, speech therapists, and certified public psychologists collaborate according to each patient’s condition. Psychologists’ primary responsibilities include conducting psychological assessments and support for patients with sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, functional hearing loss, functional voice disorders, cochlear implants, and other conditions requiring a psychosomatic approach. Psychologists are also engaged in research on treatment outcomes. To function effectively as part of the otolaryngology team, psychologists must possess not only specialized knowledge and skills but also an understanding of otolaryngological diseases, audiometry, and speech therapy. Furthermore, they must clearly and concretely communicate psychological test results and psychotherapeutic methods to doctors, nurses, clinical laboratory technicians, and speech therapists to support the treatment process.

Psychologists are expected to play an important role in the treatment of eating disorders, alongside other medical professionals. This paper introduces a team-based approach to treating eating disorders at the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, and discusses the specific role of psychologists within this approach.

At the Kohnodai Hospital, psychological testing and psychotherapy prioritize the selection of appropriate assessments and group therapy based on treatment progress and patient characteristics. Additionally, the team provides a psychological perspective to enhance the patients’ understanding and support their recovery. With the introduction of licensed psychologists, their role has become increasingly important. The treatment of eating disorders requires specialized knowledge and skills, which psychologists can offer from a professional psychological perspective.

We report on the current status of our clinic, a local medical facility specializing in internal medicine, gastroenterology, surgery, orthopedic surgery, and psychosomatic internal medicine. To help patients easily understand the concept of psychosomatic internal medicine and body-mind correlation, we provided a leaflet with illustrations. We collaborated with certified psychologists and registered dietitians to offer primary care addressing both body and mind. This cooperation with the psychology professionals not only reassures our medical staff but also provides essential support to our patients. In this report, we discuss the growth of medical institutions in relation to their developmental cycles.

Background : The Chiba Prefectural Support Base Hospital for Eating Disorders provides consultation support to patients and their families.

Objectives : To analyze the relationship between consultation content and body mass index (BMI).

Methods : The consultations were classified into detailed categories, such as patient symptoms and treatment history, for use with NVivo, an analysis support software for qualitative and mixed studies. We performed a chi-square test.

Results : A total of 1,283 consultations were conducted during the study period : 25.6％ from an extremely emaciated group, 7.2％ from a severely emaciated group, and 13.6％ from a group with normal BMI, each of which is a subclassification of DSM-V. Regardless of BMI severity, approximately 63.5％ of all the respondents mentioned a desire for a facility specializing in eating disorder treatment. Chi-square tests were performed for each item and BMI severity. Statistically significant items were anxiety and resistance regarding physical aspects and treatment in the extremely emaciated group ; consultation and medical knowledge in the severely emaciated group ; painfulness of symptoms in the moderately emaciated group ; difficulty in making appointments for consultation in the mildly emaciated group ; and behavioral symptoms such as overeating and vomiting and psychological consultation in the normal BMI group.

Conclusion : Patients and their families needed counseling on how to cope with the strain from symptoms that vary with BMI and the medical system, including access to a facility specializing in treatment.