Dr. Wimmer: The link between body and mind is a key topic. In the emergency room I have seen that ever more acute physical symptoms are caused or worsened by the mind—for example in the form of anxiety. There are also many chronic illnesses, which have been proven to be strongly linked with the mind. For example psoriasis, which is often caused by increased stress.
Dr. Wlodarek: Fortunately medicine and psychology now know about these interactions. For many centuries the body and the soul, or mind, were seen as separate. However, the two belong together and influence each other. Sometimes one speaks, sometimes the other. Attitudes and feelings have an effect on the body. The placebo effect is a clear example of this. But physical processes can also influence the mind and soul, for example by causing depression.