@article{0c25e12d5dcb402eb453ab7bbe489eb2,
title = "Psychosomatic Medicine: A New Psychiatric Subspecialty",
abstract = "Objective: Psychosomatic medicine, also known as consultation-liaison psychiatry, received approval as a subspecialty field of psychiatry by the American Board of Medical Specialties in the spring of 2003. This represents a crucial step in the development of the field of psychosomatic medicine and recognition by leaders in the fields of medicine and psychiatry of its importance. Methods: The field was developed in response to evidence suggesting that a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders exists in patients with complex medical illnesses and that diagnosis and management of these disorders in this population is critical yet frequently complicated by the medical illnesses themselves. Results: Psychosomatic medicine psychiatrists have developed specialized expertise in addressing these issues. Conclusion: The approval of subspecialty status for psychosomatic medicine will help promote the psychiatric care of patients with complex medical, surgical, obstetrical and neurological conditions, as well as foster further improvements in the quality of training and research in this important area.",
author = "Gitlin, {David F.} and Levenson, {James L.} and Lyketsos, {Constantine G.}",
note = "Funding Information: In 1818, Johann Christian Heinroth was the first to use the term “psychosomatic” when discussing causes of insomnia. The phrase “psychosomatic medicine” is believed to have been introduced by Felix Deutsch around 1922 (1). Edward Billings introduced the concept of liaison psychiatry at the University of Colorado, supported in part by an initiative of the Rockefeller Foundation in 1935, which funded consultation-liaison/psychosomatic medicine units there and at three other university hospitals. The American Psychosomatic Society was founded in 1936, and the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine in 1954. James Eaton, Director of the Psychiatry Education Branch at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) provided inspired leadership with the development of training grants for consultation-liaison psychiatry fellowships in the late 1970s that significantly enlarged the number of expert clinician-teachers. Recognizing the need for more research at the interface with medical illness, NIMH developed a series of Research Development Workshops for psychiatrists in consultation-liaison psychiatry in 1985. By 1991 there were 55 consultation-liaison fellowships registered with the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. With the support of the APA, the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine first applied to ABPN for subspecialty status for consultation-liaison psychiatry in 1992. At that time, ABPN raised concerns about the name and scope of the proposed subspecialty. The American Board of Medical Specialties subsequently instituted a moratorium on all new subspecialties. Ultimately, APM submitted a new application for subspecialty status in 2001.",
year = "2004",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1176/appi.ap.28.1.4",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "28",
pages = "4--11",
journal = "Academic Psychiatry",
issn = "1042-9670",
publisher = "American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.",
number = "1",
}