Clinical Manual of Psychosomatic Medicine: A Guide to Consultation-liaison Psychiatry

As many as 60% of general hospital inpatients have diagnosable psychiatric disorders that can interfere with the efficacy of the treatment they receive for their primary complaints. Disorders such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction have been shown to result in longer hospital stays and the greater costs that accompany them, while there is compelling evidence that the availability of psychiatric consultation reduces mortality, morbidity, and length of stay. Despite these clear advantages in terms of patient care and cost reduction, psychosomatic medicine clinicians continue to face the daunting challenges of limited reimbursement and segregated physical and mental health service delivery. The second edition of the Clinical Manual of Psychosomatic Medicine: A Guide to Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry provides practicing psychiatrists and psychiatry residents, as well as internists and family medicine physicians, with the tools they need to navigate this difficult treatment terrain. Thoroughly revised and updated, this comprehensive, yet concise, volume addresses topics ranging from conducting a mental status exam, to making a differential diagnosis, to treating a plethora of diseases and conditions. Its emphasis on focused diagnostic assessments and treatment recommendations will be welcomed by practitioners seeking to provide optimal treatment for patients within an often-demanding managed care environment.