Review Article *Corresponding Author: Sumit Bhateja, Dept. of Oral Medicine & Radiology, Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana, India Email: bhateja.sumit@gmail.com IP Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health Science, July-September, 2019;2(3):71-78 71 Available online at www.iponlinejournal.com Journal homepage: www.innovativepublication.com/journal/ijnmhs Behavioural medicine for oral psychosomatic disorders Sumit Bhateja 1* , Harshita Gupta 2 , Shaifaly Chouhan 3 , Medha Sansanwal 4 , Geetika Arora 5 1 HOD, 2-4 Dental surgeon, 5 Reader, 1 Dept. of Oral Medicine & Radiology, 5 Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, 1-4 Manav Rachna Dental College, Faridabad, Haryana, Inderprastha Dental College, Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh, India Abstract There are many patients who have ‘medically and psychiatrically unexplained symptoms’ in clinical dentistry. These symptoms are called “Oral Psychosomatic Disorders’’. It is not uncommon to see the patients with these conditions, so there is a growing need for proper management of these disorders from both sides of doctors and patients. So it becomes important to have identity as a dentist on practice of psychosomatic dentistry. This article reviews various psycho therapies for stress management towards establishment of ‘Psychosomatic Dentistry’. Keywords: Psychosomatic disorders, Emotional stress, Behavioral medicine. Introduction 1,2 Psychosomatics or the psycho physiological problem (mind - body relationship) is a question that has been asked for thousands of years. The term “psychosomatic” was first used by Heinroth (1818) when he discussed psychosomatic aspects of insomnia and was later popularized by German psychiatrists Jacobi & Nasse. The psychoanalyst Franz Alexander (1935), considered to be the founder of psychosomatic medicine, proposed a theoretical model explaining the mechanism of psychosomatic disorders, which underlies much of clinical work &research till date. The American Psychiatric Association (1952) in its standard nomenclature recognized the ambiguity in the use of word “psychosomatic” & coined the designation “psycho physiologic autonomic & visceral disorder” for the symptoms that are seen due to chronic exaggerated state of normal physiological expression of emotions; such long term physiological & visceral states may eventually lead to structural changes in various organs. “Psychosomatic medicine” is an area of scientific investigation concerned with the relation between psychological factors and physiological phenomena in general and disease pathogenesis in particular &oral psychosomatic disorders which constitute an integral part. We might also mention a different view of psychosomatics: understanding psychosomatics as a psychosomatic problem i.e. astate of mind, mood, situation or long-term psychological trouble, situations of conflict are reflected in physical health. This involves psychological situations that are difficult to cope with. Or we can talk about a somatopsychic problem i.e. a sudden change in the physical condition, for example, toothache; physical attack causes secondary psychological problems. "Behavioral medicine" is the field concerned with the development of behavioral-science knowledge and techniques relevant to the understanding of physical health and illness and the application of this knowledge and these techniques to diagnosis, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Psychosomatic medicine has tended to emphasize etiology and pathogenesis, and behavioral medicine treatment and prevention, then each has contributed to a comprehensive view of disease, and ideally there should be no conflict between them (e.g., understanding etiology and pathogenesis is essential for rational treatment and prevention). The best psychiatric approach is to construct a life chart for an individual. The determinants of stress as a