• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2002

The author reviewed the historical background of development of consultation-liaison psychiatry along with the psychosomatic medicine. Historically consultation-liaison psychiatry has developed over the past 70 years as an outgrowth of general hospital psychiatric units, and the psychodynamic approach including psychoanalysis has influenced to the development of the consultation-liaison psychiatry. Through the review, the author suggested psychodynamic understandings as a basic tool for the practicing of medical psychotherapy.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.14-24
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• 1993

The author discussed present problems and future prospects of psychosomatic medicine in clinical, educational, research, and social aspects. In general, psychosomatic field. particularly. consultation-liaison(C-L) psychiatry in Korea seems to remain on early developmental phase. However, positive change in the general publics' and societal view of psychiatry, specialization of medicine and development of medical technology, implementation of delivery system in medical care could contribute to development of this field. In future, clinically, liaison activity will be more activated. and this field will be developed as main subspecialty of psychiatry. In addition. C-L psychiatry will be subspecialized. and prevention and humanization of medical care could be more emphasized. In education. the main place of education for medical students and psychiatric residents will be changed from closed ward to general ward in which consultation-liaison activity can be performed. In research. consultation liaison model suitable for Koreans will be developed and studies on disease mechanism will be more promoted. In social aspects, this field could influence the general publics' view of psychiatry and change the whole areas of medicine and society toward integration. In order to achieve these goals, medical insurance system and cost relevant to C-L activity should be essentially improved.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-24
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• 2008

Psychosomatic medicine is also known as consultation-liaison psychiatry. Pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry is composed of all consultation, liaison, diagnostic, therapeutic support and research activities carried out by psychiatrists and other mental professionals in pediatric ward to provide mental health services to physically ill pediatric patients. As the differences in the basic concepts of disease models between psychiatry (psychosocial model) and pediatrics(biomedical model) exist, active communication between the child psychiatrist and pediatric medical staffs is required. Although the general guidelines are similar, there are specific considerations for consultation in children and adolescents. Much work is still needed to identify empirically supported treatments which are effective for managing a board range of psychosocial difficulties in children and adolescents.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2011

Alcohol is so-called "a magic bullet" affecting on the various organs and central and peripheral nervous systems and causes mental illness as well as physiological and psychological dependence. Also, alcohol problem is related with serious social problems including family violence, suicide, loss of job and crimes. Because alcohol use disorder is a common cause of consultation and liaison in general hospital, we could consider alcohol use disorder of one of psychosomatic disorder. Thus, I reviewed the prevalence, rate of consultation, and general consultant and treatment issues in treating patients with substance use disorder in a psychosomatic medicine.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2008

With the rapid growth of geriatric population, geriatric psychiatric consultation has come to play a more important role in recent years. It is necessary to find out characteristics of psychiatric consultation-liaison in elderly and applicate practical guideline of consultation in medical setting. Management of medically ill elderly in psychiatric consultation requires different guideline from that of other age group patient. Because aging and each organ-specific diseases change the pharmacokinetics of psychotropic drugs variably. These pharmacokinetic changes should be considered in psychosomatic treatment in medically ill elderly. The relatively low consultation rates for psychiatric disorders in the elderly indicate that research is needed into factors that both prevent and facilitate elderly patients with psychological symptoms from consulting their general practitioners.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.98-100
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• 1993

To become an effective and successful consultation-liasion psychiatrist the psychiatrist should consider two aspects of consultation before he/she meets his/her patients. First the psychiatrist should understand the internal need and psychological state of patients who visited their physician before being refered to a psychiatrist So psychiatrists should be careful in the evaluation of the patient's intention whether they are willing to accept the psychiatric treatment approach or not Second the psychiatrist should understand the situation and the physician's internal need in the consultation. Psychiatrists should recognize whether there are any factors which interfere with the mutual understanding and cooperation between physicians and psychiatrist.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.22-33
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• 1994

The author presented several points of experienced materials obtained from the joint meetings of consultation-liaison Psychiatric division with oncologic department in Kyung Hee University Hospital. The joint meetings which have been held regularly every other week were very helpful not only for the psychiatrist but also for the cancer department stags to manage the cancer patients actively. The joint meetings have been progressed into more cohesive and active communication as time goes by. Most of the subjects discussed in the meeting was focused on the psychological and behavioral problems of the cancer patients. Besides, the difficulties arising from the chemotherapy were discussed. Probably the most difficult task for the treatment team was to provide complete information while respecting the patient's right to deny their situation The liaison psychiatrist usually gave comments to the charge doctor and/or nusing staff how to evaluate the patient's behavior and what would be the influential factors in developing the doctor-patient relationship. It was found that many cancer patients and their family members had their own peculiar illness behavior and disease concept which led patients to take non-medical or moreover, anti-therapeutic care. The family members were found to play an influential role in the choice of treatment method and progression of the disease. Another role of the liaison psychiatrist in the oncology ward was to encourage the treatment team members. In the practical point of view, it was not easy for the liaison psychiatrist to have time regularly for the cancer patients to encourage the liaison activities. And it seems to be fundamental that the consultation fee for the liaison psychiatrist should be set up at the resonable level.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.98-106
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• 1994

The authors investigated 131 nonpsychiatric physicians' attitudes toward psychiatric consultation, using questionnaires. A comparison was made as regards psychiatric consultation from nonpsychiatric physicians over position(staffs vs. residents) and department(medical vs. surgical). These findings are as follows ; 1) 51.9 percent of nonpsychiatric physicians estimated that less than 30 percent of their patientshadpgychiatricproblems. 2) The percentage of the patients referred for psychiatric consultation were 30 or less than 30 percent 3) Staffs tried to refer their patients to psychiatric department for psychiatric consultation more frequently than residents. 4) Medical physicians tried to refer their patients to psychiatric department for psychiatric consultation more frequently than surgeons. 5) Psychiatric consultation was estimated to be most frequently requested for overt psychiatric symptoms(23.0%) and past history of psychiatric treatment(20.8%). 6) The most frequent causes of not referring to department of psychiatry were found to be the patients' rejection(46.8%) and non-psychiatric physicians' dissatisfaction with the results of consultation (22.2%). 7) Medical physicians tended to explain the reasons for psychiatric consultation more adequately than surgeons. 8) Residents more specifically wrote the reasons for psychiatric consultation on the chart than staffs. The results suggest that staffs are more active in psychiatric consultation than residents, whereas medical physicians are more active than surgeons. Thus, education should be more emphasized for surgeons and residents, especially for the latter for effective consultation-liaison activity. On the other hand, psychiatrists should try to improve nonpsychiatric physicians' dissatisfactions with the results of psychiatric consultations, which will positively change their attitudes toward psychiatric consultation.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.14-17
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• 2012

There were several documents that might reflect the great concern on the education of psychosomatic medicine in medical school from the 1960s. But the hour of class and proportion of psychosomatic medicine have been quite small among the total lecture time of psychiatry. Notwithstanding the importance of biopsychosocial perspective in practice and research there have been no agreement on the goal and content of teaching psychosomatic medicine in the medical school curriculum. Consultation-liaison psychiatric activity in the hospital were currently under-developed and educational content and process were not systematic. We should have established the goal of psychosomatic education in the medical school that includes making doctor who could not only cure disease but also care the ill patients. And we should develop the curriculum that covers essential area of psychosomatic medicine and checking system to monitor the process of education. With the continuance of psychosomatic perspectives from medical school education to clinical subspecialty we can make progress in this field.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.28-33
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• 2011

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the pattern of psychiatric consultation-liaison in a new general hospital over a 5-year period. Method: Retrospective chart review was conducted for psychiatric consultations performed from May 2004 to December 2008 in a new general hospital in Hwasun, Korea. Results: A total of 1,852 patients who were referred to the Department of Psychiatry for consultation were included in the analysis. The main reasons for psychiatric consultation were changes in mental status(20.5%), depression(16.8%), insomnia(12.8%), and anxiety(7.9%). Psychiatric consultations were conducted with diagnoses of delirium(39.7%), depressive disorder(28.2%), adjustment disorder(7.9%), and anxiety disorder(4.1%). Patients with delirium were significantly older than were those with other psychiatric diagnoses(p<0.001). Delirium was more common in male patients than in female patients(47.1% vs. 29.9%, respectively), and depression was more common in female patients than in male patients(48.3% vs. 33.9%, respectively)(p<0.001). Delirium was more common in patients who underwent surgical operation than those who did not(p=0.010). Conclusion: Delirium was the most common diagnosis for psychiatric consultation followed by depression in a university hospital. Delirium was more prevalent in men than in women, while depression was more common in women.