[Salutogenesis--a story about the development of an idea].

The medical sociological concept of salutogenesis is introduced and explained. Salutogenesis means essentially: what factors create and maintain relative health; this is in contradiction to the well known questions on pathogenesis. There is special emphasis on the central component: the sense of coherence and the three sub-categories--comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness. The importance of the concept salutogenesis for the theory of general medicine and psychotherapy is explored. An eventual application of this concept and attitude in practical medicine is suggested and discussed. The possible importance of the salutogenesis concept and attitude, for coping with continuing and intense professional stress of physicians and other therapists, is outlined.