Konsiliar-/Liaisonpsychiatrie und -psychosomatik

Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics (CL) is a clinical care area and represents a subspecialty within Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine, operating at the interface of somatic and psychosocial medicine. CL services play a crucial role in both clinical care and research, as psychosocial factors significantly influence the development and course of somatic diseases, and somatic diseases can often lead to psychological stress and disorders that need to be treated accordingly. Although CL services are now active in most hospitals in German-speaking regions, there has been a lack of a practical handbook that provides newcomers with a concise overview of the key areas of activity and serves as a reference for experienced clinicians. This work—authored by distinguished experts from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—finally fills this gap. The book initially addresses foundational topics such as the organizational and care structures of CL services, including the principles of conducting consultations, support in coping with illness, psychotherapeutic interventions, and the care of relatives, psychopharmacotherapy, as well as legal and ethical issues. Building on this, clinical aspects of specific mental disorders such as delirium/dementia, depression, adjustment and anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, and somatization disorders are presented, along with specific questions in cardiology, diabetology, gynecology, oncology, palliative care, transplantation, intensive care, and pain medicine. The content is illustrated with typical case examples and is supported by current research data and treatment recommendations.