Collaborative Treatment for the Psychosomatic Couple

Abstract

This article reflects on the conceptualization and treatment strategies associated with a systems perspective of the somatic couple. It is suggested that resistance to change, nurturance of the somatic patient by his or her partner, and rigid role taking serve to promote relationship stability and individual pseudopower at the cost of patient health. The authors suggest that psychotherapists can aid primary care physicians in more effective treatment for somatizing patients by educating physicians about the role of the couple relationship in the maintenance of somatic disorder, how the somatizing patient can triangulate health care into an unstable dyadic relationship, and the usefulness of a multidisciplinary, contextual approach to the treatment of somatization. A case example is offered to demonstrate these concepts.

Thematic review of family therapy journals 2009

“…There was also a thoughtful series of clinical articles in the Family Journal on systemic therapy for people with chronic medical conditions, arthritis and asthma (Sperry, 2009a, 2009b, 2009c) and a good clinical article on the management of ‘psychosomatic couples’ (Thoburn et al , 2009). The latter authors argued that family therapists can aid primary care physicians in more effective treatment for somaticizing patients by educating them about the role of the couple relationship in the maintenance of somatic disorder, how the somaticizing patient can triangulate physicians into an unstable dyadic relationship and the usefulness of systemic therapy in the treatment of somatization.…”

Clinical Practice in Family Psychology

“…The family psychologist can provide a workshop for patients on stress reduction or pain management, thereby reducing the time the physician spends with this population. The family psychologist can also offer to consult with the physician on avoiding triangulation into family dynamics (Thoburn, Hoffman-Robinson, Shelly, & Sayre, 2008). Another example of a service the family psychologist can offer is to do an in-service for teachers on how and when to refer a child for therapy.…”