Medical psychology services in dutch general hospitals: state of the art developments and recommendations for the future.
In this article an overview is presented of the emergence of medical psychology in the care of somatically ill patients. The situation in the Netherlands can be considered as prototypical. For 60 years, clinical psychologists have been working in general, teaching and academic hospitals. Nowadays, they are an integrated non-medical specialism working in the medical setting of hospitals in the Netherlands, and are a full-member of the medical board. This paper discusses several topics: the position of the general hospital in the health care system in the Netherlands, the emergence of medical psychology in Dutch hospitals, the role of the professional association of medical psychologists, and the characteristics of patients seen by clinical psychologists. Following the discussion about the situation of medical psychology in other countries, recommendations are formulated for the further development of medical psychology in the Netherlands as well as in other countries.
Soons
Paul
P
Department of Medical Psychology, CoRPS - Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Tilburg University, P.O. Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands. p.soons@uvt.nl
Denollet
Johan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011586:Psychology, Clinical / Q000639:trends*; D011591:Psychology, Medical / Q000193:education / Q000639:trends*; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000639:trends; D012958:Societies, Scientific / Q000639:trends; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy