Physical symptoms are fascinating phenomena to examine. We all experience them, use them as signals to guide our behavior, and usually assume that they accurately represent underlying physiological activity. At the same time, we implicitly know that bodily sensations are often vague, ambiguous, and subject to a variety of interpretations. It is not surprising, then, that there is often a disparity between what we think is going on in our bodies and what is objectively occurring. In short, phenomena such as physical symptoms are the stuff of psychology. My own research into physical symptoms started by accident several years ago. In a hastily devised experiment dealing with the effects of noise on behavior, I had to write a post-experimental questionnaire that would be long enough to allow the experimenter time to calibrate some equipment for a later portion of the study. I included some physical symptoms on the questionnaire as fillers. The experiment was a total failure, with the exception of the symptom reports. People's perceptions of symptoms were easily influenced by our manipulations, even though their actual physiological state had not changed. And so began the present inquiry. Despite the pervasiveness, importance, and sheer amount of time and money devoted to discussing and curing common physical symptoms and sensations, very little empirical work has been devoted to examining the psychological and perceptual factors related to sensory experience. Occa sional papers have tested a specific theory, such as cognitive dissonance, wherein physical symptoms served as an interesting dependent measure.

Physical symptoms are fascinating phenomena to examine. We all experience them, use them as signals to guide our behavior, and usually assume that they accurately represent underlying physiological activity. At the same time, we implicitly know that bodily sensations are often vague, ambiguous, and subject to a variety of interpretations. It is not surprising, then, that there is often a disparity between what we think is going on in our bodies and what is objectively occurring. In short, phenomena such as physical symptoms are the stuff of psychology. My own research into physical symptoms started by accident several years ago. In a hastily devised experiment dealing with the effects of noise on behavior, I had to write a post-experimental questionnaire that would be long enough to allow the experimenter time to calibrate some equipment for a later portion of the study. I included some physical symptoms on the questionnaire as fillers. The experiment was a total failure, with the exception of the symptom reports. People's perceptions of symptoms were easily influenced by our manipulations, even though their actual physiological state had not changed. And so began the present inquiry. Despite the pervasiveness, importance, and sheer amount of time and money devoted to discussing and curing common physical symptoms and sensations, very little empirical work has been devoted to examining the psychological and perceptual factors related to sensory experience. Occa sional papers have tested a specific theory, such as cognitive dissonance, wherein physical symptoms served as an interesting dependent measure.

This collection of chapters on the many issues involved in collecting, interpreting, and working with self-report data will be invaluable to scholars and professionals in the mental and behavioral sciences.

Explores the body as a map of consciousness, where physical symptoms reflect stresses on our minds, emotions, and Higher Self • Offers a comprehensive guide to 800 physical symptoms with the description of their inner cause and the message they are sending to our consciousness • Explains how learning a symptom’s message empowers the individual affected to take charge and effect change on the inner level • Addresses the individual as well as the helping professions, healers and therapists, to help them understand more fully the dynamics of the body-mind interface The body is intimately connected to the mind and the Spirit. Each physical symptom reflects a deeper part of our Spirit and consciousness, the part the Western traditions know as the “unconscious” or “subconscious.” When we make a decision that leaves us with stress, it affects our consciousness, and therefore our energy field or aura. When the tension increases in intensity, it reaches the physical level where it creates a symptom. This means that if we make a different decision, or change our mind about something, we can let go of this stress, and the symptom. The symptom itself is not the problem, just a message that, once understood, has fulfilled its purpose and can be released. Integrating Martin Brofman’s more than 30 years of research and healing practice, The Inner Cause comprises an A to Z compendium of 800 symptoms and a psychology of their inner causes, the messages they are trying to send to our consciousness. Woven into the descriptions of symptoms, the author also discusses personality profiles associated with certain symptoms, derived from his understanding of the chakras, the body-mind interface, and the connections he discovered when developing his Body Mirror System of Healing. He explains that when you explore the inner cause to a symptom, you recognize that you have created this symptom through the stressed way you chose to respond to the conditions in your life. By learning a symptom’s message, you become empowered to take charge and effect change on the inner level. For each symptom discussed, the author explores the message of the symptom, which chakras are involved, how you may be affected, and which issues you might need to look at to resolve the tension or stress--although a specific solution will always depend on the individual’s personal situation. With its correlation of symptoms and psychological states of being, The Inner Cause provides invaluable insight into how we can effectively support our own healing process physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The definitive resource to the signs, symptoms, and patterns of medical diseases that CAN present as psychological problems This invaluable reference enables clinicians, as well as patients and their families, to become more familiar with these medical conditions and how they may masquerade as mental disorders.Part One of this book is organized so that it corresponds to the sections of the Standard Mental Status Exam. It is composed of clinical presentation descriptions that direct the reader to the medical diseases described inPart Two that may be contributing to the patient's discomfort. Without medical jargon, Barbara Schildkrout lucidly explains how patients with each medical condition may end up seeking help from a mental health professional. The conditions explored in this book include: Alzheimer's disease Brain tumors Carbon monoxide poisoning Diseases of the thyroid Endocrine disorders Hepatic encephalopathy HIV/AIDS Hyperventilation syndrome Hypoglycemia Limbic encephalitis Lyme disease Syphilis Thiamine deficiency Traumatic brain injury The book also describes a proven process for working with patients during and after the referral process, and integrating medical findings into ongoing therapeutic work. All mental health professionals need access to this information, and Masquerading Symptoms puts it all in a single, easily navigated reference. BARBARA SCHILDKROUT, MD,is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. She has taught for many years at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She has a Subspecialty Board Certification through the United Council for Neurological Subspecialties in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry and has maintained a private clinical practice in the Boston area for over 25 years.

In August, 1985, the 2nd International Conference on Illness Behaviour was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The first International Conference took place one year previous in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. This book is based on the proceedings of the second conference. The purpose behind this conference was to facilitate the development of a single integrated model to account for illness experience and presentation. A major focus of the conference was to outline methodological issues related to current behaviour research. A multidiscipl~nary approach was emphasized because of the bias that collaborative efforts are likely to be the most successful in achieving greater understanding of illness behaviour. Significant advances in our knowledge are occurring in all areas of the biological and social sciences, albeit more slowly in the latter areas. Marked specialization in each of these areas has lead to greater difficulty in integrating new knowledge with that of other areas and the development of a meaningful cohesive model to which all can relate. Thus there is a major need for forums such as that provided by this conference.

Health psychology is a rapidly expanding discipline at the interface of psychology and clinical medicine. This text offers a comprehensive, accessible, one-stop resource for clinical psychologists, mental health professionals and specialists in health-related matters.