Psychological factors affecting other medical conditions is diagnosed when attitudes or behaviors have a negative effect on a general medical condition that the person has.
People's attitudes or behavior can negatively affect any disorder (such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, or migraines) or symptom (such as pain).
According to the standard psychiatric diagnostic manual, factors that can worsen a medical condition include the following:
Denying the significance or severity of symptoms
Denying the need for treatment
Not following the prescribed treatment plan
Not getting the recommended tests
Psychological factors affecting other medical conditions is diagnosed if a psychological factor clearly affects how a disorder progresses.
Treatment involves
Teaching people about the effects of psychological factors or behavior
