The author presents here an epistemological reflection concerning medicine known as “psychosomatic”. The first observation is that of the disappearance of the teaching of medical psychosomatic at the Institute of Chicago which was founded by Franz Alexander. The second observation is the persistence of the use of the term “psychic factor,” and “psychosomatic medicine,” whereas, from the point of view of the international scientific community, their contents were still not defined. The surprise which this situation causes is analyzed based on the thought process of Karl Popper. The stakes that are discussed in this context are those of a change in psychosomatic paradigm, in line with new data from the clinical method in psychology.
Psychosomatic medicine; psychic factor; clinical method; Popper; epistemology