The Skeletomotor System and Functional Somatic Symptoms

Abstract

In this chapter we continue our exploration of the neuro biology of functional somatic symptoms by considering the skeletomotor system. When the stress system activates, the skeletomotor system acti vates in tandem, to prepare the body for protective action. And when protective action is no longer necessary, the skeletomotor system typi cally deactivates. But if the child has faced severe stress of one kind or another, with the consequence that stresssystem activation is main tained, activation of the skeletomotor system may also be maintained even though there is no immediate need. This maladaptive activation of the skeletomotor system may express itself in aberrant motor pat terns. Some of these patterns are easily recognizable as body responses to threat that have somehow remained activated even in the absence of current threat. Other motor patterns mimic neurological conditions and result in significant functional impairment. In this chapter we also 7

Gender Differences: Paranormal Beliefs and Maladaptive Emotional Schemas

“…Similarly, gender can also be considered biopsychosocial because it is a multifaceted and complex interrelationship between body, personality and social features (Iantaffi, 2017). Kozlowska's Functional Somatic Symtopms model uses a biopsychosocial approach to understand somatic symptoms (Kozlowska et al, 2020). Most trauma and violence models are also biopsychosocial (Sweeney et al, 2018).…”