Integrated health care: A remembrance of Yujiro Ikemi

With the designation of psychosomatic medicine as the seventh certified specialty in U.S. psychiatry, there has been heightened interest in holistic approaches to health care. This is not a new interest, but one that has existed for thousands of years. Before Descartes introduced his philosophic ideas on the separation of mind and body, ancient physicians had generally accepted a unified approach to health and illness. Reintegrating systems of psyche and soma have occupied researchers and clinicians ever since. Integrated approaches were no stranger to Professor Yujiro Ikemi, a renowned pioneer and innovator in psychosomatic medicine. As a trained internist, he brought together important ideas and data from psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis and educational theory in his efforts to blend occidental and oriental medical theory and practice. As a tribute to Professor Ikemi, this presentation will discuss the history of attempts to establish integrative approaches to medicine and Professor Ikemi's unique contribution to those efforts.