[Cooperative medical care by physicians of general hospitals and psychiatrists of an alcoholism treatment unit in Mie Prefecture].
Clinical practice of psychiatric liaison with physicians is the first step for an early treatment of alcohol dependence. Screening patients with alcohol dependence in general hospitals, carrying out intervention, and referring them to psychiatric specialists are running smoothly by the cooperation of member of the Mie Association for the Study of Alcohol-related Diseases. This association is being conducted by managers constituted of doctors, nurses, and medical social workers and the meeting is held every 6 months at district general hospitals to achieve three objectives; 1) evoking a sense of responsibility for alcoholic patients in the mind of general hospital staffs, 2) developing a network for psychiatric liaison with physicians to care patients of their alcohol dependence, and 3) keeping up activities of the association. We have already held the regular meeting 12 times, and prepared pamphlets for screening alcohol misuse and for early intervention. A course for learning skills of early intervention in this summer won the favor of participants. Through case conference of alcoholism and full accounts of the experiences given by recovered patients or their families, meeting attendants know patients' distress, families' sorrow, and their delight brought by the recovery, and are motivated to assist patients with alcohol dependence. Thus, "Spirit to Spirit" is a keyword to develop a network of the cooperative medical care for supporting patients with alcohol dependence. Referral of alcoholic patients to psychiatrists and/or psychiatric liaison therapy is promoted by a reliable, faithful, and face to face relationship between physicians and psychiatrists. Physicians' learning the skill for early intervention in alcohol dependence is followed by an increase in referral of patients to psychiatrists, and which suggests the importance of providing teaching and training of medical care for alcohol dependence to medical staffs including doctors of emergency care units, orthopedics, obstetrics, and dentistry. Therefore, systematic tools for screening alcohol dependence in general practice, and for referring patients to psychiatrics after brief intervention are needed to be prepared under the leadership of a learned society. Popularizing the skill of brief intervention in general medical practice is also indispensable for advising alcoholic patients about changing their drinking pattern or abstinence.
Ino
A
A
Mental Care Center, Prefecture of Mie, 1-21-1, Shiroyama, Tsu, Mie 514-0818, Japan.
Endo
T
T
Hirofuji
H
H
Takase
K
K
Watanabe
S
S
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003376:Counseling; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D012017:Referral and Consultation