The connection between psyche and sympathetic nervous system
Timo Telaranta M.D., Ph.D. and Paivi Pohjavaara M.D., Privatix Clinic, Tampere, Finland
In the central nervous system the arousal requires the brain stem, the thalamus and the cortex, attention is maintained in the right frontal lobe; the formation of memories happens in the medial temporal lobe, certain diencephalic nuclei and the basal forebrain. The amygdala rates the emotions of an experience. The limbic system is the centre of the human drives, their regulation requires an intact frontal cortex. The injury in the frontal lobe impairs the executive functions as motivation and attention. The sympathomedullary system and locus coerulaeus are activated in depression, mania, panic disorder and acute phases of schizophrenia. The autonomic nervous system is one of the most important mediators between the mind and the body. It has two roles in this function: the role in basic metabolic function as in energy storage and release, in the control of exocrine secretion and thus intake, in conservation, loss, and transformation of energy the role in behaviour, where the hypothalamus is involved in alert and defense reactions.
The sympathetic system is defined as an energy consumption system and the parasympathetic system is an energy conserving and balancing force. The sympathomedullary system is activated in various mental disorders. The biopsychosocial model is clearly seen in the social phobia. The "fight or flight " response of the sympathetic system can also be seen in the physical signs of the social phobia when the patient is in the centre of attention. With sympathetic overload the patient starts to fear the triggering situations and avoid them. The need-adaptive approach adjusts treatment plans of socially phobic patients who haven't had any help of medication and psychotherapy. It seems possible to treat their symptoms and cut the vicious circle of social phobia blocking the sympathetic system in the upper thoracic level with a surgical procedure. If a patient with the social phobia hasn't had any help of conventional treatment methods such as medication and psychotherapy, the sympathetic block could be a treatment of choice for them
