[The specific role of medical psychotherapy as seen by somatic physicians in general hospitals].

OBJECTIVES

We examined the attitude towards the importance of medical psychotherapy among physicians working in a hospital. We focused on their opinion about the general role of medical psychotherapy within the health care system as well as on their opinion about the importance of medical psychotherapy in different clinical situations.

METHOD: 105 physicians with various clinical specialties were interviewed using a questionnaire designed for this purpose.

RESULTS

From the point of view of the interviewed physicians, medical psychotherapy plays an important role. Especially medical psychotherapists are considered to be competent in cases of life-threatening situations resulting from mental disorders (such as suicide, anorexia nervosa), in psychopharmacological treatment as well as in cases of medically unexplained physical symptoms. Furthermore, medical competence in psychotherapy is requested wherever there is close connection to physical illness (such as stressful events in medical contexts).

CONCLUSIONS

Especially in times of increasing specialization of physicians there is a need for medical psychotherapy in inpatient health care and clinical consultation.