Psychiatric-treatment of pain syndromes in general hospital and outpatient
settings is becoming increasingly important. Psychiatric consultation-liais
on services should conceive of treating pain patients as a major part of th
eir clinical work, for which psychiatry has to offer special expertise. In
order to stimulate interest in treating such patients within psychiatry, th
e following article outlines diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of psychiat
ry's unique contribution within multidisciplinary treatment teams for pain
patients.