[David]

@DrMariano 3233 wrote:

When a person is not feeling well, then there is something wrong in the system. This may including structural problems, signaling problems, metabolic problems, nutritional problems, and psychosocial-environmental problems. Each of these levels interacts with the others. Each change may be secondary or be in response to a more primary or core change.

For example, when a person has a belief system (their internal model of reality) which directly conflicts with the data coming in from the senses, then stress may arise, and various signals (neurotransmitters, hormones, etc.) may change. And structure of the nervous system can change – to accommodate learning, for example.

Psychological factors can directly change structure and signaling in the nervous system.

The key is to determine where the problem is occurring when where to best approach treatment. This is guided by what is determined to be the core problem or problems.

For example, if a person is iron deficient, thyroid hormone signaling may not function despite having adequate hormone levels. Norepinephrine signaling may increase to compensate for ATP production loss. The treatment may not be necessarily aimed to reduce norepinephrine or increased thyroid but to address the more core problems of iron deficienicy.

Psychological interventions, behavioral interventions (such as meditation, exercise, psychotherapy) are also biological interventions in that they affect physiologic function in the mind and nervous system. These may be appropriate in many patients.

This is very interesting.

Dr. (and anyone else) could you elaborate or point me to any reading related to how in your view Psychological factors can directly change structure and signaling in the nervous system?
What type of psychotherapy do you suggest? Cognitive, psychodynamic?
Thanks.

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