Ambulatory Patients with Medical and Psychiatric Illness: Care in a Special Medical Clinic

Patients who have both medical and psychiatric illnesses often present very difficult diagnostic and treatment problems. Cross referrals by the two or more specialties necessarily involved in their management are often perceived by these patients as rejection and not only may induce in them feelings of frustration, helplessness and anger, but may also lead to a worsening of their medical and psychiatric symptomatology. This paper describes the organization and operation of a comprehensive clinic, staffed by both internists and psychiatrists, designed to provide total care for these patients. The patient population comprises patients with independent or unrelated medical and psychiatric illnesses, patients with interdependent medical and psychiatric symptoms, patients with reactive psychological problems and patients with somatizations as an expression of psychological conflicts. Case reports illustrate the approach used in patient management and some of the encouraging results that can be achieved at such a clinic. The special nature of the clinic presented a challenge to the physician's traditional role and required careful attention to specific aspects of the doctor-patient relationship, which are briefly discussed.