Author Description

Did you know that one in six adults and 40% of primary care patients suffer from medically unexplained symptoms, chronic functional syndromes, or psychosocial factors responsible for chronic pain? Collectively these are called Psychophysiologic Disorders or PPD. As recent research has confirmed, a trauma-informed approach to diagnosis and treatment can transform these patients from among the most frustrating to the most rewarding and give them a far better chance for a full recovery. This process was described in detail in the previous volume from the PPD Association titled Psychophysiologic Disorders (KDP Publishing, 2019). A key barrier to implementing this approach is that most medical clinicians lack formal training in assessing for PPD and most mental health professionals lack knowledge of medical diagnoses. This book addresses that blind spot with a table of hundreds of medical diagnoses that are common in PPD patients. The table explains each diagnosis and describes the contribution from PPD without jargon or technical terms. It is based on published evidence and the authors’ experience diagnosing and treating PPD in thousands of patients. Also included is an introduction to the diagnostic process for PPD that includes the authors’ most recent recommendations. There is also a detailed self-assessment questionnaire for patients that is designed to provide insight into how well their condition fits the biopsychosocial context commonly associated with PPD. As in the companion book Psychophysiologic Disorders, the concepts are practical and can readily be implemented by any healthcare professional. Learning this approach is more than just clinically effective. As one family physician who learned these concepts said: “It put the joy back into my practice.”