[Experiences with psychosocial liaison service on oncologic units of an acute clinic]

Within the last years psychosocial care in acute medicine has become more and more important. Therefore different conceptional structures are discussed to optimize the integration into primary care medicine, especious psychosomatic or psychosocial consultation and liaison services. Having resumed the concepts and practice of psychosocial care in oncology this paper describes a psychosocial liaison service accompanying a research project in psychooncology. The representation focuses the experience with psychosocial care of cancer patients over the last three years. Based on a systematic clinical documentation the activities are described with regard to psychosocial indication, patient assignment, patients needs during acute treatment and the different kinds of psychosocial interventions applied. The experiences are evaluated regarding the target groups (patients, relatives, medical staff) and associated problems of cooperation and organisation met with medical staff. Finally needs, possibilities and limits of psychosocial liaison services are discussed comparing the experiences with others reported in the literature.