Psychosomatic Diseases Department

The Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University has been dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of psychosomatic diseases for more than 20 years. With the support and efforts of the hospital leadership and all department members, the development of the psychosomatic disease subspecialty has gradually been refined, the level of medical care and academic standing have continued to rise, and a high-level medical team integrating clinical care, teaching, and research has been established. With the approval of the Liaoning Provincial Health and Family Planning Commission, the Liaoning Provincial Clinical Psychosomatic Disease Treatment Center was established in 2010, and the psychosomatic ward of the Department of Neurology was established in the same year.

Psychosomatic diseases (psychosomatic diseases) are a group of diseases whose onset and progression are closely related to psychosocial factors but that primarily present with physical symptoms. These diseases are characterized by a high incidence, a low recognition rate, and a tendency to be misdiagnosed. Patients have complex and varied clinical manifestations and often move among different clinical departments in search of treatment, repeatedly undergoing various examinations and treatments. This not only wastes substantial medical resources but also creates a heavy financial burden. Approximately one-third of patients seeking care at general hospitals fall within the category of psychosomatic diseases. The establishment of the psychosomatic ward of the Department of Neurology has provided help and support to enable these patients to receive an early diagnosis and relief from their suffering.

The psychosomatic ward is affiliated with the Department of Neurology and mainly admits patients with neurological and psychosomatic diseases. Examples include: cognitive disorders in older adults (non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, various senile dementias, mild cognitive impairment, etc.); emotional disorders associated with internal medicine diseases (anxiety and depression associated with diabetes and hypertension, postpartum depression, post-stroke depression, menopausal syndrome, etc.); psychophysiological disorders (sleep disorders, headaches, eating disorders, etc.); diseases that are difficult to explain clinically (somatoform disorders, chronic pain); and mental disorders associated with diseases of the nervous system (delirium, hallucinations, behavioral abnormalities, etc., associated with Parkinson’s disease and various dementias).

The psychosomatic ward adheres to the bio-psycho-social medical treatment model and has established a mature comprehensive treatment system combining pharmacotherapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, biofeedback, music-based relaxation, psychological counseling, and psychotherapy. Treatment outcomes are significant and have received unanimous praise from patients. The number of patients treated in the psychosomatic ward has increased year by year, with its services covering Liaoning Province and Northeast China; more than 1100 patient admissions are handled annually, and the follow-up rate exceeds 90%. At the same time, we have also received recognition from peers in China.

The psychosomatic ward team consists of 3 professors, 2 associate professors, and 1 resident physician, including 1 doctoral supervisor and 2 master’s supervisors. The team undertakes the clinical, teaching, and research work of the Department of Neurology, has led 5 National Natural Science Foundation projects, has received provincial Science and Technology Progress Awards of the second and third classes multiple times, has published more than 90 papers, more than 10 of which are indexed in SCI, and has trained more than 60 master’s and doctoral graduates.

At present, research into psychosomatic diseases has developed into a distinctive branch of medicine—psychosomatic medicine. Psychosomatic medicine emphasizes the interaction between psychological and physiological factors and the relationship between these factors and the social environment in which the patient lives. As times change, the prevalence of psychosomatic diseases continues to rise, and their harmful effects on humanity are becoming increasingly serious. We will continue to improve our diagnostic skills, standardize treatment, effectively combine psychotherapy with the treatment of physical diseases, strive to treat mind and body together, and relieve patients’ suffering as soon as possible.