BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE AT THE GENERAL-HOSPIT AL - EVALUATION OF TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH SOMATOFORM DISORDERS

Patients with somatoform disorders mostly look for medical treatment. These patients reject recommendations for psychotherapy because they p refer a somatic model of their illness. For patients with such an atti tude, a modification of their somatic illness assumptions, an enhancem ent of motivation for psychotherapy, and the initiation of psychothera peutic treatment after discharge of the hospital are indicated. In thi s study we describe the development and evaluation of a psychosomatic treatment approach for patients with somatoform disorders within a psy chological consultation-liaison service (PCLS) at a general hospital.