Psychosomatic medicine is concerned with the assessment, management, and modification of psychosocial variables in the setting of medical diseases across medical specialties [1]. It can be defined, to date, as a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, person-centered framework for (a) assessment of psychosocial factors affecting individual vulnerability, course and outcome of any type of disease, (b) holistic consideration of patient care in clinical practice, (c) integration of psychological therapy and, when necessary, social interventions in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of medical disease [1]. Treatment options typically target all modifiable biological and psychosocial factors contributing to the pathological condition, also paying attention to the role of allegedly “secondary” factors, e.g. stress and coping, which may play a pivotal role via feedback mechanisms in the disease course over time. The individual illness experience, the patient’s agenda, as well as subjective well-being, protective factors, and social aspects such as relationship experience and formation across the life span receive specific consideration.

This is the first issue of Wiener klinische Wochenschrift on psychosomatic medicine. In accordance with established principles of diagnostic approaches in psychosomatic medicine [2, 3], this issue aims to give an insight into specific diagnostic strategies and novel instruments for psychosomatic assessment.

In the article entitled “The lived body (Der Leib) as a diagnostic and therapeutic instrument in general practice” the patient-physician encounter is described from the perspective of mutual embodiment and embodied communication [4]. It suggests that patients and doctors co-create specific atmospheres that can be reflected for diagnostic purposes.

Furthermore, a new visual rating scale termed Psychosomatic Assessment Health Disc (PAHD) is introduced in the article “Development of a visual tool to assess six dimensions of health and its validation in patients with endocrine disorders” [5]. This screening instrument is an easily deployable tool to visualize and quantify the patients’ satisfaction with physical well-being, social life, sexuality, mental well-being, sleep, and work ability/performance.

Another novel approach is presented in the article entitled “Interoceptive awareness and self-regulatory behavior are interrelated in contributing to psychosomatic competence as measured by a novel self-report instrument” [6]. Psychosomatic competence as defined in this work refers to a body-related cognitive competence that allows interpreting physical sensations and initiating self-regulation of bodily signals, similarly to what is known from biofeedback training or meditation practices. It should be noted that the use of the term psychosomatic competence differs from its probably more common understanding, relating this term to skills of medical professionals to explore, understand and deal with biopsychosocial aspects of disease [7].

A further article includes protective and salutogenic factors as outcome measures in a psychotherapeutic group intervention study in oncology. The authors of “The effectiveness of mindfulness-based supportive psychotherapy on post-traumatic growth, resilience, and self-compassion in cancer patients: a pilot study” report that supportive psychotherapy significantly improved these psychological outcome measures [8]. They suggest that this intervention could be used as a complimentary treatment in oncology.

Finally, the review entitled “Assessment of personality functioning in psychosomatic medicine” concludes that there may be a systematic link between lower levels of personality functioning and difficulties in managing chronic conditions [9]. According to the authors, this assumption should be further investigated as, to date, there is only a limited number of studies using standardized assessments of personality functioning in patients with chronic disease.

We hope that this special issue can contribute to exemplify the range of diagnostic approaches in assessing psychosocial factors in medicine and to inspire both biopsychosocial research and individualized clinical care.