Teaching somatoform disorders in a "nervous system and behaviour" course: the opportunities and limitations of problem-based learning.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the opportunities and limitations of problem-based learning (PBL) in psychosomatic medicine, especially in the field of somatoform disorders.


METHODS
A written case of conversion neurosis of a 22-year-old subway worker, who had been suffering from dizziness for the past 18 months, was presented to students as one of seven cases during a "Nervous System and Behaviour" course.


RESULTS
Tutors and students are normally accustomed to focusing on organic lesions such as aetiologies for neuro-psychiatric disorders. Understanding behavioural and pseudo-neurological symptomatology without brain damage, accepting emotional and biographical factors and referring to the role of the unconscious seems to be a great challenge for tutors and students alike.


CONCLUSIONS
Studying the case of a somatoform syndrome in a PBL tutorial may teach the students skills in taking the psychosocial history into account and deepen their knowledge of neuro-psychiatric differential diagnosis.
Frick
Eckhard
E
Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (Psychiatric Clinic), University of Munich, Germany. efrick@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D005858:Germany; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000193:education*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy