Mission and History

The Psychophysiologic Disorders Association (PPDA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in March 2011. Our Board of Directors consists of medical and mental health professionals with many years' experience diagnosing and treating Psychophysiologic Disorders (PPD) and members of the public. In millions of people annually, PPD causes pain and other physical symptoms nearly anywhere in the body and often in more than one location simultaneously. These symptoms are usually indistinguishable from illness due to other causes but are not linked to a diseased organ or structure. Consequently, diagnostic tests are either entirely normal or misleadingly detect abnormalities that are not causing the symptom(s).

Despite its high prevalence, few health care professionals have had formal training in uncovering the hidden psychosocial issues responsible for PPD. Consequently, most people with PPD suffer needlessly when they could be successfully diagnosed and treated. The PPD Association is dedicated to correcting this by educating medical and mental health professionals and the public so that all three become aware of PPD, its roots in unrecognized stress and the availability of practitioners skilled in treatment.