Stomach Pain and Mind-Body Relationship This is a delicate issue and must be approached by medical professionals with care. Of course, it is an established fact that psychic distress can be responsible for physical ailments. Did you ever get a headache after having an argument? Were you one of those students who experienced diarrhea before final exams? This past week, I saw 3 new patients in my practice with abdominal distress all of whom volunteered that they felt that emotional stress and anxiety were the culprit, or at least a major contributor to their gastro issues. Obviously, when the patient has this level of insight and expresses it to the physician, it paves the way for a fruitful conversation. But, this is not always the case. When I see new patients with long histories of unexplained abdominal complaints, I do not initially raise the possibility of a psychic connection. I think this is arrogant and has the potential to communicate the wrong message to the patient,
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.