Psychosomatic education in Turkey

Abstract

Psychosomatic education during medical study is achieved within psychiatry courses in Turkey. Generally, postgraduate education in psychiatry provides, during the specialization period, also a certain amount of education in psychosomatics. Only the Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty at Istanbul University presents a unique form of practice and educational activity in the field of psychosomatics. Here, the Psychoneuroses and Psychosomatics Department within the Psychiatry Clinic (the foundation of which goes back to 1970) provides for medical students a psychosomatic approach and an introduction to psychosomatic concepts within the medical psychology courses and a further theoretical as well as practical knowledge during the psychiatry courses and internships. Postgraduate training in psychosomatics is also unique for Turkey in this department, where psychiatry residents with special interest for psychosomatics spend the major part of their training period in the psychosomatics department and receive theoretical and practical training. Training in psychotherapy is also included in the program. The regular series of seminars and open-lectures organized by this department are directed also to other medical and non-medical staff in various departments and faculties. Consultation-liaison-psychiatry is also part of this training. The department provides under- and postgraduate training (master training) for psychologists. Nurse training (under- and postgraduate) and occupational therapist training are also included in the training program of this Department. The training as well as other therapeutic and research activities of this department are also supported by the Society of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy.