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Review
. 2018 Jan 2:12:1.
doi: 10.1186/s13030-017-0120-x. eCollection 2018.

History, aims and present structure of psychosomatic medicine in Germany

Hans-Christian Deter  1 , Johannes Kruse  2 , Stephan Zipfel  3
Affiliations
Review

History, aims and present structure of psychosomatic medicine in Germany

Hans-Christian Deter et al. Biopsychosoc Med. .

Abstract

Combining its two traditions of integrated psychosomatics in internal medicine and focusing on psychotherapeutic/psychiatric methods in many clinical fields, German psychosomatic medicine has developed well over the last decades. It benefits from its institutional independence and the progressive changes in health care. Clinically, disorder-oriented psychotherapy is a core method integrated with other modes of therapy. As a conceptual base for empirical research, non-reductionist accounts of the interactions of (sick) persons with their environment are most important. Germany has developed a model of Psychosomatic Medicine that has conceptualized and integrated psychotherapeutic methods into clinical practice and realized one way to practice bio-psycho-social medicine in the health care system of the country.

Keywords: Health care system; Integrated medicine; Psychotherapy; Research; Teaching.

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Conflict of interest statement

1MD, Prof, Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Clinic, Psychosomatic, Charité, Berlin Germany, former president of the German College of Psychosomatic Medicine (DKPM). 2MD, Prof. Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Clinic Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, President of German Society of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy (DGPM), former board member of DKPM. 3MD, Prof. Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, President of the German College of Psychosomatic Medicine (DKPM).Not applicable.All authors have given consent for publication.The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

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