ABSTRACT
The ANS disorders are health problems that involve the dysfunctions of organs regulated neurally by the ANS, notably the organs of the cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and the respiratory systems. The psycho physiological approach to the ANS disorders is based on the two very general observations: the important role of the ANS-innervated systems in stress and emotions; and the influence of self-regulation procedures on ANS functions. In order to convey the complexity of the health problems and the richness of current psycho physiological thinking, a limited set of conditions is presented in some depth of Raynaud's disease, migraine headache, bronchial asthma, and the peptic ulcers. Behavior therapy is used occasionally as an adjunct to drug treatment of asthma, especially in children. Psychotherapy may be a useful treatment approach to the peptic ulcer, which is not surprising that given the apparent involvement of stress and the emotions in ulcer etiology.
