Taken at face value, the term ‘psychosomatic’ simply means the interaction of psyche (mind) and soma (body). As such it is a non-controversial concept that points out the many ways in which psychological factors affect the expression of physical disorder and vice-versa. Few doubt that stress makes many physical illnesses worse, at least as far as symptoms are concerned. There are not many physical illnesses in which the outcome is unaffected by psychological factors: depression after a heart attack, for example, has a worse effect on prognosis than smoking.
A physical ailment that is mentally induced. Psycho refers to the mind, and somatic refers to the body. This type of disease is frequently called a stress disease.