Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry in Japan

Despite great advances in medical technology, the stresses of illness persist, resulting in a significant prevalence of comorbid psychiatric disorders in hospital and ambulatory medical settings. Consultation-liaison psychiatry is the subspecialty of psychiatry that focuses upon these issues. It has become a link between mental health disciplines and other fields of health care all over the world. This volume documents the vibrant energy and productivity of Japanese consultation-liaison psychiatrists who have developed a new biopsychosocial model for the treatment of patients with a variety of serious diseases. It begins with an overview on the historical background and the present issues in Japan. Further articles deal with psychiatric problems in transplant medicine, psychonephrology, psychooncology and HIV/AIDS. Finally drug-induced psychosis and psychosomatic problems of diabetes patients are discussed. The book will be useful to any physician or mental health care professional who works with the medically ill. It demonstrates the wide range of knowledge and treatment options available to mental health care professionals to intervene when dealing with patients suffering of a serious disease.