title: [Psyche and soma: what can the consultation-liaison psychiatrist contribute?].
abstract: In German speaking countries, during the last decades, we can see a growing, though albeit small, integration of psychiatry and psychosomatics into (somatic) medicine. This article outlines the importance of the growing number of elderly patients in medical care as a vantage point for c-l-psychiatrists to play a pro-active role in implementing adequate structures and processes for diagnostics and treatment of this patient group. It is argued that delirium (in dementia) can and should be regarded as a paradigm for a biopsychosocial disorder sui generis. In addition, aspects of the cl-psychiatrists role at two important interfaces of somatic and psychological medicine, i.e. primary care and emergency rooms, are highlighted. Finally, some information about the development of the professionalization of cl-psychiatry in Europe is given.
authors.affiliation: Abt. für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Königin Elisabeth Herzberge, Herzbergstraße 79, 10365, Berlin, Deutschland, a.diefenbacher@keh-berlin.de.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diefenbacher
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001317:Austria; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D008501:Medical Records, Problem-Oriented; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011570:Psychiatry; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012017:Referral and Consultation