LIFE-STYLE CHANGES AND PSYCHOSOMATIC PROBLEMS IN JAPAN

After the Second World War, with economic prosperity and marked improvement in medicine, hygiene environments and nutrition, and also by organization of the medical insurance system in Japan, we have achieved the worldxs longest life span of 80 years superseding the average of 50 years in the past. As to the structure of diseases, tuberculosis and acute infectious diseases have diminished, whereas life-threatening diseases such as cancer, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular diseases have been increasing. Despite the advancement of the standard of living and material prosperity, environmental and ecological distortion has been taking place in various forms, that is, nature has been on the verge of destruction, and industrialization has been bringing many problems relating to environmental pollution. With regard to psychosomatic aspects, particularly among school children, there are many reports on school refusal, violence in school and at home, juvenile delinquency, bullying and suicide. Eating disorders and personality disorders tend to increase in puberty and adolescence. In middle-aged males, workaholics and stress-related psychosomatic disorders, Karoshi (death from overwork), suicides due to depression are matters of great concern. In relation to the aged population which is on the rapid increase, how to care for bed-ridden and dementia patients is also drawing much attention. The numbers of AIDS patients, kitchin drinkers and the rate of divorce tend to increase. The term ,,technostress'' is becoming popular among computerrelated workers.