Post-treatment resource program for promoting the quality of life of cancer survivors: The first two years

Abstract

s from C-L Forum Education, as to ramifications of medical illnesses, including AIDS, remains a need for psychotherapists in private practice, particularly those who are not MDs. Twenty Years of Psychiatric Consultation in a Swiss General Hospital: Changing or Unchanging Patterns? R. Zumbrunnen, L. Wieland, L. Tricot, A. Gunn-Sechehaye Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva, Hipita Cantonal Universitaire Genezla, Switzerland A psychiatric consultation-liaison unit was established at the Hopital Cantonal Universitaire of Geneva in 1963. One of us (A. G.-S.) has taken part in the consultations from the beginning, and is now still in charge of the service. Aside from this personal stability, profound modifications have affected the C-L unit, the hospital, and the society during this period of time. The present study was conducted to investigate changes that may or may not have occurred since the creation of the C-L unit regarding the patterns of the psychiatric consultations in the medical and surgical wards. A total sample of 500 consultation reports, i.e., 100 for each index year (1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985), was randomly extracted from the C-L unit file records and analyzed. The results of the study can be summarized as follows: changes regarded mostly the caretaker-related variables (among others: staff’s reasons for consultation, consultant’s diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations), whereas patient-related variables remained more stable and consistent over time. European Consultation-Liaison Workgroup (ECLW) Multi-Centered Registration Study F. 1. Huyse arzd Members of the ECLW Consultation-Liaisorz Psychiatry, Academisch Ziekenlzuis der Vrije Unizlersitat, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Concerning the state-of-the-art of C-L psychiatry in Europe, the current level of C-L service delivery in general hospitals seems inadequate and unprepared to cope with the expected growth of admissions of elderly, AIDS, risk-taking behavior, stress-related illness, and chronic illness, all related to psychiatric sequelae. Aware of these impediments, a Workgroup (European Consultation-Liaison Workgroup for General Hospital Psychiatry and Psychosomatics [ECLW]) started in 1987 and formulated as a major goal stimulation of collaborative research programs to improve psychological and psychiatric care within the general hospital. The ECLW is in the process of a project, funded by the European Community, that focuses on the development of guidelines for C-L service delivery in the general hospital derived from empirical data. The specific goal of the study is the assessment of the impact of C-L service manpower characteristics on the service delivered; for example, consult rates, lag times, profile of services, length of stay and post-discharge placement. Therefore, a patient registration form, including a manual with operational guidelines, has been developed. In addition, basic C-L service and hospital characteristics will be described. A pilot study, a reliability study, and training sessions are included in the research design; these are currently in progress. The study is facilitated through the use of a flexible Kaiser Optical Mark Scanner system directly linked to SPSS and a database. Preliminary results of the pilot study and the reliability study will be presented. The development of the ECLW has been greatly facilitated through generous support from Upjohn Medical Sciences Liaison (MSL). Members of ECLW in alphabetical order: Belgium: I. Pelt, D. Razavi, M. van Moffaert; Denmark: P. Beth, D. Loldrup; Finland: P. Tienari; France: E. Guillibert, G. Marx; Germany: M. Wirsching, T. Herzog; Greece: C. Stefanos; Italy: G.A. Fava, S. Grandi, M. Rigatelli; The Netherlands: M.W. Hengeveld, F.J. Huyse; Norway: U.F. Malt, I. Refne; Portugal: F. da Fonseca; Spain: M.D. Crespo, A. Lobo; Sweden: T. Person, A. Nagy; Switzerland: R. Zumbrunnen, B. Radanov.