Teaching consultation-liaison psychotherapy: assessment of adaptation to medical and surgical illness.
OBJECTIVE
Little has been written about teaching consultation-liaison inpatient psychotherapy to residents or other trainees.


METHODS
Resident interviews at completion of consultation-liaison training identified learning needs. In response, the authors created a seminar series and modified it reiteratively eight times.


RESULTS
In this approach, the primary task of consultation-liaison psychotherapy assessment is to determine the success of a patient's adaptation to hospitalization, and to identify obstacles to adaptation. Selected determinants of adaptation are reviewed and organized as individual factors and intrahospital and extrahospital environmental factors. This provides a viable means of organizing and integrating disparate bodies of knowledge for the student.


CONCLUSIONS
The teaching model awaits empirical validation as a tool that enhances teaching and patient care outcomes.
Hunter
Jonathan J
JJ
Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Maunder
Robert G
RG
Gupta
Mona
M
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003479:Curriculum; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008016:Life Change Events; D009769:Object Attachment; D009864:Ontario; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010552:Personality Assessment; D010819:Physician's Role; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000193:education*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital