A large part of Western medical therapy involves the expectation often held by physicians and patients alike that a medication prescription be given to help treat an illness. However, as described in this blog a better approach involves consideration of a psychological intervention for every patient with a chronic illness.

Such an intervention sometimes reduces or eliminates the need for medications and can be associated with dramatic improvement in symptoms.

When patients develop chronic physical symptoms, their psychology is always involved. Either their symptoms cause them to develop a psychological reaction such as anxiety, depression, or adaptation to a changed lifestyle, and/or their psychological issues can lead to the onset or perpetuation of physical symptoms.

For example, I treated a 9-year-old who presented with cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath that were triggered by colds, exercise, changes in........

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