Why psychosomatics is still an also-ran. System constraints in medicine

Journal/Book: Psyche Z Psychoanal Anwend. 1998; 52: Rotebuhlstrasse 77, D-7004 9 Stuttgart 1, Germany. Klett-Cotta Verlag. 572-597.

Abstract: Notwithstanding all the efforts undertaken to integrate classical medicine with psychosomatics, the health system is still squarely based on classical medical science. With reference to the model (or metaphor) of the ''Trivial Machine'' versus the ''Non-Trivial Machine'', Buchinger attempts to cast light on the dilemma bedeveling the relation between classical and psychosomatic medicine. With the help of this model he is able to substantiate his thesis that the aim should not be to integrate psychosomatic medicine into clinical medicine but that psychosomatic medicine has the broader foundations for any kind of treatment of illness to build on (which does not mean that vice versa clinical medicine could be Integrated into psychosomatic medicine). According to Buchinger, the rationale behind this is the ''expertise of not-knowing'' which (he suggests) the psychosomatic doctor represents. As an expert in ''not-knowing'', the psychosomaticist can push back the frontiers bounding the relational space between doctor and patient and help the patient to bring forth and capitalize on his/her own ''knowledge'' and thus learn to behave in a more ''healthy'' way.

Note: Article Buchinger K, Gschwend 16, A-3400 Weidling, AUSTRIA

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