psychosomatic
psychosomatic Lexical Profile
psychosomatic Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to a physical illness or symptom that is caused or aggravated by mental or emotional factors such as stress and anxiety.
"The physician concluded that the patient's chronic tension headaches were largely psychosomatic and recommended stress management therapy."
Relating to the interaction and mutual influence between the mind and the physical body.
"Recent studies in psychosomatic medicine explore how prolonged emotional distress can directly suppress immune function."
Word Nuance & Usage
In clinical medicine, 'psychosomatic' describes genuine physical symptoms caused or worsened by emotional stress, whereas in casual speech it is often misused to imply that an illness is imaginary or faked.
• Rhymes for psychosomatic
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 19th century from the Ancient Greek 'psyche' (mind, soul) and 'soma' (body).