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Biomedical subjects

J E Sarno

Publications and source records attributed to J E Sarno.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1981

Etiology of neck and back pain. An automatic myoneuralgia?

This report presents the theoretical basis and some evidence to support the concept that most back, neck, and shoulder pain is due to a psychophysiological process in muscle and nerve tissue known as tension myositis. Descriptive data on age, past history of associated psychosomatic disorders, mode of onset of pain, patterns of pain location and tenderness, the latter considered the hallmark of tension myositis, and certain neurological correlates, suggest that it is the major cause of back pain rather than structural aberrations of the spine. It is suggested that success or failure in the conventional treatment of back pain is evidence for a psychosomatic process, via the placebo mechanism.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Psychosomatic backache.

It is contended in this report that the majority of pain syndromes involving the neck, shoulders, and low back are the result of a benign, reversible process in the musculature which is psychosomatic in nature and which has been called tension myositis. The natural history of the disorder, findings on physical examination, and diagnostic studies are briefly described. The theoretical basis for the conclusion that it is psychosomatic is discussed, the therapeutic program is described, and long-term results with a group of treated patients are presented. The results suggest that a program of physician counseling and physical therapy is generally successful. The author believes that the psychosomatic nature of the disorder places it within the purview of the behaviorally oriented specialty of family practice.

Adolescent↗