Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Psychosomatic Medicine: The British Experience

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Global Psychosomatic Medicine and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry

  • 589 Accesses

Abstract

Psychosomatic medicine had little impact on clinical practice in the United Kingdom. Psychiatry evolved largely separate from other medical specialties. The asylum acts of the nineteenth century made special provision for treating lunacy by establishing hospitals which paved the way for separating mental and physical health care, a condition which lasted for over 100 years. Following the First World War the recognition of ‘shell shock’ with its combination of physical and emotional symptoms began a period of reintegrating psychiatry with neurology. It was not until the 1960s however that policy shifted to close the mental hospitals and re-provide mental health wards in new general hospitals. Even this radical shift was insufficient to provide universal psychiatric expertise in general health pathways or services. Only in the last 10 years has policy shifted to improve access to psychological services (IAPT) for people with physical symptoms and develop core liaison psychiatry services in all English Hospitals by 2020.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • A National Service Framework for Mental Health; Modern Standards and Service Models. (1999). Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Academy of Medical Royal Colleges. (2008). Managing urgent mental health need in the acute trust: A guide by practitioners, for managers and commissioners in England and Wales. Academy of Medical Royal Colleges.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aitken, P., Emmens, T., & Robens, S. (2014a). Liaison psychiatry services – guidance. Mental Health Partnerships. London. Retrieved 15th July 2016. http://mentalhealthpartnerships.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/1-liaison-psychiatry-services-guidance.pdf

  • Aitken, P., Emmens, T., & Robens, S. (2014b). An evidence base for liaison psychiatry – guidance. Mental Health Partnerships. London. Retrieved 15th July 2016. http://mentalhealthpartnerships.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2-evidence-base-for-liaison-psychiatry-services.pdf

  • Aitken, P., Emmens, T., & Robens, S. (2014c). Developing models for liaison psychiatry – guidance. Mental Health Partnerships. London. Retrieved 15th July 2016. http://mentalhealthpartnerships.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/3-developing-models-for-liaison-psychiatry-services.pdf

  • Aitken, P., Emmens, T., & Robens, S. (2014d). Model service specifications for liaison psychiatry services – guidance. Mental Health Partnerships. London. Retrieved 15th July 2016: http://mentalhealthpartnerships.com/.../4-model-service-specifications-for-liaison-psychiatry-services.doc

  • Aitken, P., Lloyd, G., Mayou, R., Bass, C., & Sharpe, M. (2016). A history of liaison psychiatry in the UK. BJPsych Bulletin, 40, 199–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, F. (1943). Fundamental concepts of psychosomatic research*: Psychogenesis, conversion, specificity. Psychosomatic Medicine, 5, 205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, F. (1948). Studies in psychosomatic medicine; an approach to the cause and treatment of vegetative disturbances. Oxford: Ronald Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey, S., Thorpe, L., & Smith, G. (2013). Whole-person care: From rhetoric to reality: Achieving parity between mental and physical health. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, J., Aitken, P., & Lee, W. (2015). Report of the 2nd annual survey of liaison psychiatry in England. Royal College of Psychiatrists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, C. (1990). Somatization: Physical symptoms and psychological illness. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin, S., House, A., & Jenkins, P. (1994). Liaison psychiatry: Defining needs and planning services. London: Gaskell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bewley, T. (2008). Madness to mental illness: A history of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. London: RCPsych Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, J., & Hicks, A. (2013). Liaison psychiatry for every acute hospital. London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, J., & Temple, M. (2012). Chapter 28: Developing liaison psychiatry services. In E. Guthrie, S. Rao, & M. Temple (Eds.), Seminars in liaison psychiatry (2nd ed.). ISBN: 9781908020345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cassidy, E., Tahir, T., & Morgan, E. (2012). Psychopharmacology in the medically ill. In E. Guthrie, S. Rao, & M. Temple (Eds.), Seminars in liaison psychiatry (2nd ed.). London: RCPsych Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chick, J., Lloyd, G., & Crombie, E. (1985). Counselling problem drinkers in medical wards: A controlled study. British Medical Journal (Clinical Research Ed.), 290, 965–967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crisp, A. H. (1968). The role of the psychiatrist in the general hospital. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 44, 268–276.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (1999). National framework for mental health. Modern standards and service models. Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (2008). IAPT positive practice guide for long term conditions. Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (2011). No health without mental health: A cross-government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. London: HMGovernment Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (2014). IAPT positive practice guide for medically unexplained, functional symptoms. Department of Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of Health. (2015). NHS mandate. Retrieved 21st July 2016. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486818/mndate-NHSE-15_16.pdf

  • Foley, T. (2013). Bridging the gap: The financial case for a reasonable rebalance of health and care resources. London: RCPsych and Centre of Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guthrie, E. (2006). Psychological treatments in liaison psychiatry: The evidence base. Clinical Medicine, 6, 544–547.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • House, A. (2015). Liaison psychiatry: Measurement and evaluation of service types, referral patterns and outcomes LP-MAESTRO. NIHR.

    Google Scholar 

  • House, A., & Creed, F. (1993). Training in liaison psychiatry. The Psychiatrist, 17, 95–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health. (2013). Guidance for commissioners of liaison mental health services to acute hospitals. Joint Commissioning Panel for Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, G. G. (1980). Whence and whither ‘liaison’psychiatry? Psychological Medicine, 10, 11–14.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd, G. G. (2001). Origins of a section: liaison psychiatry in the College. Psychiatric Bulletin, 25, 313–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macleod, J., & Walton, H. (1969). Liaison between physicians and psychiatrists in a teaching hospital. The Lancet, 294, 789–792.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mayou, R. (1989). The history of general hospital psychiatry. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 155, 764–776.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayou, R., & Hawton, K. (1986). Psychiatric disorder in the general hospital. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 149, 172–190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayou, R., & Lloyd, G. (1985). A survey of liaison psychiatry in the United Kingdom and Eire. The Psychiatrist, 9, 214–217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayou, R., Connolly, J., Lloyd, G., Maguire, P., Rosser, R., Smith, E., & Thomas, C. (1983). A college group for liaison psychiatry. The Psychiatrist, 7, 149–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • NHS England. (2016). Implementing mental health in the five year forward view. NHS England.

    Google Scholar 

  • NICE. (2004). Clinical Guideline 16. The short term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://www.nice.org.uk/CG16

  • NICE. (2005). Clinical Guideline 25. Violence: The short-term management of disturbed/violent behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings and emergency departments. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG25

  • NICE. (2006a). Clinical Guideline 38. Bipolar disorder: The management of bipolar disorder in adults, children and adolescents, in primary and secondary care. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG38

  • NICE. (2006b). Clinical Guideline 42. Dementia: Supporting people with dementia and their carers in health and social care. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG42

  • NICE. (2007). Clinical Guideline 45: Antenatal and postnatal mental health: clinical management and service guidance. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://www.nice.org.uk/CG45

  • NICE. (2009a). Clinical Guideline 82. Schizophrenia: Core interventions in the treatment and management of schizophrenia in primary and secondary care. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://www.nice.org.uk/CG82

  • NICE. (2009b). Clinical Guideline 91. Depression in adults with chronic physical health problems: Treatment and management. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016 http://www.nice.org.uk/CG91

  • NICE. (2010). Clinical Guideline 100. Alcohol use disorders: Physical complications. London: NICE. Retrieved 23rd July 2016. http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG100

  • Parsonage, M., & Fossey, M. (2011). Economic evaluation of a liaison psychiatry service. London: Centre for Mental Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, R. (1997). The greatest benefit to mankind: A medical history of humanity from antiquity to the present. London: Harper Collins.

    Google Scholar 

  • RCP, RCPsych. (1995). The psychological care of medical patients: Recognition and service provision. London: Royal College of Physicians and Royal College of Psychiatrists.

    Google Scholar 

  • RCPsych, BEAM. (2004). Psychiatric services to accident and emergency medicine departments. London: RCPsych.

    Google Scholar 

  • RCPsych, RCGP. (2008). The management of patients with physical and psychological problems in primary care: Report of a joint working group of the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. London: RCPsych.

    Google Scholar 

  • RCSENG, RCPsych. (1997). Report of the working part on the psychological care of surgical patients. The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schröder, A., Rehfeld, E., Ørnbøl, E., Sharpe, M., Licht, R. W., & Fink, P. (2012). Cognitive–behavioural group treatment for a range of functional somatic syndromes: Randomised trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 200, 499–507.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharpe, M. (2014). Psychological medicine and the future of psychiatry. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 204, 91–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Devon Partnership NHS Trust, Exeter, UK

    Peter Aitken

  2. University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK

    Peter Aitken

  3. Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London, UK

    Peter Aitken

  4. Royal Free Hospital, London, UK

    Geoffrey Lloyd

Authors
  1. Peter Aitken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Geoffrey Lloyd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peter Aitken .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry University of California San Francisco, CA, USA, Psychiatric Consultation-Liaison Service and Psychosomatic Medicine Program, UCSF Fresno, USA

    Hoyle Leigh

Questionnaire Response

Questionnaire Response

figure a
figure b

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Aitken, P., Lloyd, G. (2019). Psychosomatic Medicine: The British Experience. In: Leigh, H. (eds) Global Psychosomatic Medicine and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12584-4_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-12584-4_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-12582-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-12584-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation