title: Liaison psychiatry on a coronary care unit.
abstract: This paper presents several of the author's experiences as a liaison psychiatrist on coronary care units. Technological and pharmacological advancements over the past decade have made major contributions toward reducing the psychological stress of patients admitted to these units. The psychiatrist's main liaison role is in assisting with patient education and rehabilitation efforts. Examples are given of a patient education program and reasons for systematic evaluations for such programs. The psychiatrist also can aid in patient rehabilitation efforts carried out in the outpatient clinic. Results are given from an experimental program of group therapy as an adjunct to the treatment of post-myocardial infarction patients. Finally, two case histories are briefly presented which exemplify subjects' serum uric acid and serum cholesterol variability associated with psychological stresses encountered during their hospitalization following a myocardial infarction.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000628:therapy; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011570:Psychiatry; D012106:Research; D012803:Sick Role; D013038:Specialization; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D002784:Cholesterol