ABSTRACT
In Chapter 8, I describe a liaison approach to psychiatric consultation, which increases the patient population who can benefit from psychiatric assessment during hospitalization for medical or surgical conditions or childbirth. This also broadens the scope of the psychiatric investigation of the individual patient. The meaning of the patient’s illness to her, and her present methods of adapting to her illness, are important considerations. Unconscious concerns that interfere with the patient’s compliance with medical management can be clarified, resulting in expediting management. Psychiatric consultation also is useful in preventing untoward psychological reactions to illness, if this is anticipated. This type of preventive consultation, often possible because of the physician’s awareness of the psychological vulnerability of some of her patients, can result in reduced medical and psychiatric morbidity.
