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A new system of classification of the subject matter of medicine based on psychosomatic concepts is needed—one which aims at describing the organism-environment continuum together with behavioral and somatic symptoms.
The deficiency and uselessness of a mere diagnosis of 'hypertension' or 'hypertensive heart disease' is quite obvious in the five female cases which are presented briefly, without mention of results or method of treatment. Though the basic psychological conflict—regarded as typical for hypertension—could be found in all, clinical differences were extreme and these can be explained by psychosomatic, dynamic principles.
In two cases without a family history of hypertension, the course was steadily progressive, the vasometer changes irreversible, ultimately leading to organic complications, while conflict was not acknowledged and thus anxiety or neurotic traits were absent. The prognosis was considered poor. Contrarily, two other women (with a bad family history of hypertension) presented a more prolonged course of disease, fluctuation of the blood pressure and definite attempts to