Teaching psychosomatic medicine to medical students, residents and postgraduate fellows

The teaching objectives of a psychosomatic program are discussed--in particular, to teach skills and methods of observation; to help students to acquire information about mind-body relationships in health and disease; to help future practitioners develop the capacity for clinical reasoning which includes psychological and social considerations; to effect modifications in attitudes and behavior towards patients and their families; and to present to students the model of a physician who has a major interest and considerable competence in two areas of medicine--the psychosocial and the physical-physiologic-biochemical. A description of the general organization of the liaison service is presented, and the specific aspect of teaching programs for medical students, medical interns and residents, psychiatric residents, and liaison fellows are outlined. Implications for the future of liaison teaching are mentioned.