[Outcome of simultaneous psychosomatic/internal-medicine inpatient care--a naturalistic follow-up study].
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness of simultaneous psychosomatic and internal-medicine inpatient care has not yet been satisfyingly investigated. What outcome is found in patients treated in a psychosomatic/internal medicine setting? Can we predict a reduction in depression and symptom severity?


METHODS
The study design is prospective and naturalistic. Patients from a psychosomatic/internal-medicine setting and a solely internal-medicine ward filled in self-report questionnaires on the day of admission, five days thereafter, and three months after discharge.


RESULTS
A total of 221 patients from a psychosomatic/internal-medicine setting and 418 patients from a solely internal-medicine ward were included. Patient characteristics differed significantly between the two wards. Treatment was associated with a reduction of depression and somatic symptom severity over time. Depression severity improved more in the psychosomatic/internal-medicine setting than in the internal-medicine ward (ES = 0.37 vs. ES = 0.65). The strongest predictor of improvement of depression and somatic symptom severity was the patients' belief that their physical well-being was influenced by psychological factors (B = 1.44 and 1 = 0.65).


CONCLUSIONS
The results document a differential approach to admission in an integrated psychosomatic/internal medicine setting and underline the favourable course for psychological and somatic symptoms.
Zastrow
Arne
A
Klinik für Psychosomatische und Allgemeine Klinische Medizin, Universititsklinikum Heidelberg. arne.zastrow@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Faude
Verena
V
Seyboth
Franziska
F
Niehoff
Dorothea
D
Herzog
Wolfgang
W
Löwe
Bernd
B
D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003469:Culture; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D016896:Treatment Outcome