Psychotherapy in hospitals

Abstract

This study documents the attitude of physi-cians, nursing staff, administrative personnel and other hospital staff (social workers, medical laboratory assistants, etc.) towards the issue of „psychotherapy in hospitals “.
The main results are as follows: The general attitude of all respondents towards psychotherapy in hospitals is predominantly positive, although some people feel that psychotherapy in general practice was more efficient than in hospitals. The amendment regulating the implementation of psychotherapy (Article 22b of the Hospital act) is also welcomed by a majority of the respondents.

Regarding the attitude towards actual cooperation, however, there are significant differences between physicians and nursing staff.

Physicians seem to have reservations against the usefulness of psychotherapy in hospitals and against cooperation with psychotherapists.
The nursing staff, on the other hand, is clearly in favour of psychotherapy in hospitals: primarily in inpatient departments where psychotherapy can be used as an adjunct, i.e. as crisis intervention and as relief for the nursing staff and/or physicians in chronic or difficult cases (e.g. oncology, psychiatry neurology, surgery, gynecology, etc.). Supervision and psychological support of this professional group were considered to be another field of application.

These results suggest that more needs to be done to provide rational arguments in support of psychotherapy in hospitals (sustainable cost-benefit considerations) and to achieve emotional acceptance among physicians (partnership).

Keywords:
Psychotherapy, hospitals, physicians, nursing staff, psychotherapy in hospitals, psychosomatic disorders.