Teaching a neuromedical-contextual approach to psychosomatic medicine

Acad Psychiatry. 2015 Apr;39(2):204-11. doi: 10.1007/s40596-014-0193-9. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

Abstract

The practice of psychosomatic medicine in the general hospital setting can be challenging, particularly for the inexperienced trainee. Guidance for how to approach a psychiatric consultation can be nonspecific or lacking altogether. In response, we offer a pedagogical model that emphasizes patient-specific neurological, medical, and contextual variables. A stepwise, "ABC" approach to psychiatric consultation is elaborated, beginning with collection of critical history ("Admission, Background, Consultation Question"), followed by both patient encounter ("Appearance, Behavior, Context") and actual patient examination ("Arousal, Brain/Body, Cognitive Assessment"), ultimately informing any given case formulation. Multiple clinical vignettes illustrate this approach and are offered for educational purposes in dissemination to trainees.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hospitals, General / methods
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medical Records
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / physiopathology
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Educational
  • Patient Admission*
  • Psychiatry* / education
  • Psychiatry* / methods
  • Psychological Techniques / education*
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders* / physiopathology
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders* / psychology
  • Psychophysiologic Disorders* / therapy
  • Psychosomatic Medicine* / education
  • Psychosomatic Medicine* / methods
  • Referral and Consultation*
  • Teaching