Treatment Teams Are Gaining in Popularity In Hospitals Throughout the U.S.

[youtube:2MAHjj2ipsk?version=3;Solstice NYC;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MAHjj2ipsk?version=3&feature=related] The relationship between body and mind is a very complex one, and an ongoing issue that even our best researchers have likely only skimmed the surface of. The ability of the mind to affect normal bodily functions, and visa versa is huge, and most often beyond the capability of the conscious mind to control.

In a unexpectedly large percentage of cases, for instance, when an individual is presenting signs of what would be considered a psychological illness such as depression, there may be an underlying cause that is actually physical in nature. Small tumors, consumption of heavy metals, infections picked up while traveling, or even more widespread issues such as hormonal imbalances, have all been recognized to cause symptoms that replicate mental illness. And just about every psychiatrist has come across cases wherein their patients have a serious physical condition with an inability to cope. This can give rise to a mental health issue. (For example, a patient with stage 4 cancer, or one who has lost a limb, could be in the throes of extreme anger or depression while endeavoring to come to grips with a physical condition for which there is no remedy.)

Liaison psychiatry is a discipline within the mental health field that uses treatment teams to bridge this mind-body gap, and to directly deal with the interface between physical and mental health. First appearing in the 1970’s, LP arose from an obvious need as a result of noted occurrence of mental health issues such as depression, dementia, and delirium, that seemed to be occurring at remarkably high percentages in general hospitals – much higher in fact, than in the public at large. It was concluded that there was a serious need to help patients get some assistance in being at peace with their current physical circumstances during their hospital stay and after release as well.

A psychiatrist that practices LP will typically be employed in a general hospital setting as part of a treatment team that includes internists, nurses, and physical therapists as needed. These treatment teams are implemented in order to help bring about whole patient wellness, and are especially prevalent in Europe where the concerns of insurance carriers do not affect the care of the patient. Insurance companies aside though, there seems to be some higher level of LP work and treatment team mentalities emerging in the United States as well, either with the cooperation of Insurance Companies, or in spite of them.

Liaison psychiatrists also often find themselves treating patients being affected by psychosomatic illnesses, and they are very effective in this arena. (Psychosomatic illnesses are conditions that the sufferer has brought on themselves, without any physical cause for the illness. They can also be illnesses that exist only in the thoughts of the affected person, with no bodily symptoms that can be observed.) In these cases LPs are of great help to internists and general practitioners who may be at wit’s end when it comes to dealing with affected patients, and to the patients themselves who are very likely extremely distressed with their doctor’s inability to help them.

Though liaison psychiatry is relatively new, its usefulness cannot be overstated, and it has been remarkably helpful to patients and their treatment teams world-wide. When it comes to whether a patient needs a doctor or a psychiatrist, the answer all too often, is both.

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Author Stephen Daniels highly recommends NYC psychiatrist Vatsal Thakkar, M.D. He is devoted to helping all his patients lead as normal a life as possible. His methods include naturalistic treatment methods for all manner of psychiatric illnesses, as well as the skill to recognize when a medical condition could be causing psychiatric symptoms, and visa versa.