Review of Consultation Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine

Abstract

Studies of prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in the nonpsychiatric areas of general hospitals as well as of frequency and patterns of referrals for psychiatric consultation are critically reviewed. Commoner psychiatric diagnostic and management problems encountered on the medical and surgical wards are classified and discussed. The importance of these problems for psychiatric and psychosomatic theory, as well as their practical implications for training and research, are pointed out.

State of consultation-liaison psychiatry in India: Current status and vision for future

“…It not only includes diagnostic interview and assessment of the patient but also includes a psychodynamic evaluation of the patient's personality and reaction to illness. [3] The crisis-oriented approach involves a rapid assessment of patient's problem and coping styles and immediate therapeutic intervention to address the problem. [18] In the consultee-oriented approach the motive of the consultee and his related difficulties and expectations are the major focus.…”

Lipowski’s Legacy: The Psychosomatic Spirit

“…His writings influenced generations of psychosomatic researchers. I remember reading his review of consultation psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine [1, 2, 3]in the early seventies. I was still in medical school and was looking for articles in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine .…”

“…That material did not appeal much. By chance (but a Conradian chance), I started reading Lipowski’s articles [1, 2, 3]. My enthusiasm grew as long as the reading went on.…”

“…His reviews on consultation psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine [1, 2, 3]paved the ground for the recognition of the psychiatrist’s work in medicine. They are still much ahead of current consultation psychiatry trends, which, by losing their psychosomatic identity, tend to become more and more marginal to the medical stream.…”

Mental Health Knowledge and Skills of General Hospital Nursing Staff: an Exploratory Study

“…Lipowsky (1967) has reviewed the earlier studies in this area and has concluded that 50-80% of medical outpatients and 30-60% of medical inpatients had psychiatric problems. Recent studies conducted in outpatient and inpatient settings in India have shown that one third to a half of general medical patients had a recognisable psychiatric disorder (Murthy et cal.…”