PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Not long ago the central nervous system was considered to be a rigid and UN modifiable director of the various paradoxical reactions of the bodily systems to the best tested therapeutic regimens. Now it has been learned that the central nervous system is also susceptible to psychosomatic damage.

The evolution of some organic nervous disease may occur in two phases: (a) the early “non-organic” and (b) the later organic phase. The transition between these two phases may be imperceptible and only appreciated after prolonged observation by the same observer. During this transition there may occur structural change in the nervous system resulting from emotional disturbances during the first or “non-organic” stage. Evidence is adduced that not only is it the case that structure may influence function, but also that function may influence structure. An explanation is offered that psychical factors, acting upon the autonomic nervous system, affect lipoid metabolism and so produce structural change in the central nervous system.