Now the terms used are psychological factors affecting medical conditions. These factors affect health in different ways. Some may cause a medical problem. Others block necessary treatments for medical problems. A third type increases health risks for the person with the problem.
Some factors can cause stress-related physical responses.
Sometimes these psychological factors may be true psychological disorders that affect a medical condition. An example would be someone who is so depressed that they cannot follow the steps to take care of their diabetes. Sometimes the factors are psychological symptoms, rather than disorders. An example would be someone whose anxiety makes their irritable bowel syndrome worse. Personal styles or ways of coping can affect medical problems, too.