Gyneco-psychosomatic counseling in Germany and Switzerland--aims and state of the art

OBJECTIVE: To investigate actual counseling models for gynecological patients in Switzerland and in Germany. METHODS: A questionnaire investigating psychosomatic care was sent to all Swiss (N=183) and German (N=1078) departments of gynecology, obstetrics, and/or endocrinology. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-eight (27%) completed questionnaires from Germany and 57 (31%) from Switzerland were available for statistical evaluation. Eighty-seven percent of the answering clinics from Switzerland and 93% of those from Germany (ns) considered psychosomatic counseling for gynecological and obstetrical patients as very important or important. Seventy-two percent of the Swiss and 70% of the German departments (ns) offered psychosomatic support. Models of counseling varied greatly between types of hospitals and both countries. Less than 15% of the medical doctors had a formation for psychosomatic counseling. CONCLUSION: Actual possibilities seem to be below the need for psychosomatic care. An adequate formation of medical doctors and considering the effects of psychosomatic care in the discussion on cost reduction for medical treatment would help to improve counseling structures.