Even when the diagnosis appears certain, it may be necessary for the doctor to carry out a number of specific tests, such as a cardiograph, X-rays or blood examinations, to convince both the patient and himself that there is no underlying organic cause.
It is important for the doctor to give his patient a full explanation of how the symptoms have come about. If the doctor merely tells his patient that the problem is due to “nerves” and gives him a prescription for a tranquilliser, the patient will go away unconvinced.
The doctor should treat these patients with sympathy and understanding. He should not make value judgments about their ability to cope with their stresses. They are suffering from a real illness, even if it tests his ability in diagnosis and treatment.
Teaching the person how to relax and come to terms with the stresses of life is also important.
It may be necessary to use drugs to modify the response of the various organs to these nervous influences. Antispasmodic drugs may stop the overactivity of the bowel in nervous diarrhoea or other drugs slow the heart’s action.
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