Psychosomatic medicine: the scientific foundation of the biopsychosocial model.

OBJECTIVE This article presents major concepts and research findings from the field of psychosomatic medicine that the authors believe should be taught to all medical students. METHOD The authors asked senior scholars involved in psychosomatic medicine to summarize key findings in their respective fields. RESULTS The authors provide an overview of the field and summarize core research in basic psychophysiological mechanisms-central nervous system/autonomic nervous system, psychoneuroimmunology, and psychoendocrinology-in three major disease states-cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and HIV virus infections. CONCLUSIONS Understanding the core scientific concepts and research findings of psychosomatic medicine should provide medical trainees with a scientific foundation for practicing medicine within a biopsychosocial model of care.