title: Psychiatric consultation for somatizing patients in the family practice setting: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility of a psychiatric consultation intervention for somatizing patients in the family practice setting in terms of 1) patient compliance, 2) patient satisfaction, and 3) compliance and satisfaction of general practitioners (GPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a period of nine months, forty-six patients were selected for psychiatric consultation in six solo family practices in a semi-urban area in the Netherlands. The consultation included an interview with the consulting psychiatrist, the patient, and the GP. A written summary of the consultation was provided to the GP and the patient. A booster session with a GP and psychiatrist was included to evaluate and reinforce the recommendations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the selected patients agreed to participate after informed consent. An intervention was implemented containing interpersonal techniques, reattribution, clarification, and structuring. GP compliance with recommendations was 100 percent, patient compliance 75 percent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A standardized psychiatric consultation for somatizing patients in a family practice setting can be implemented. Several levels of implementation can be distinguished.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Vrije Universiteit Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van der Feltz-Cornelis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wijkel
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Verhaak
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Collijn
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Huyse
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Dyck
mesh_terms: D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010358:Patient Participation; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*