Liaison Psychiatry and Myocardial Infarctions

Abstract

Although psychiatrists have been consultants to other physicians since the seventeenth century, career liaison psychiatry has developed only since World War II.

The essential attitude of the liaison psychiatrist in hospital situations should be one of “collaboration and, above all, of not overselling.” The key to understanding and resolving emotional disturbance in hospitalized patients often lies in clarifying the meaning of the hospital culture to the patient and his modes of communication with personnel in that culture. The liaison psychiatrist needs to draw on his familiarity with individual, interpersonal and small-group psychology.

The author reviews 10 cases in which psychiatric consultation was requested for patients hospitalized with myocardial infarctions. In eight cases the consultation was apparently helpful to the internist.