[Austrian Network for Psychosomatic Medicine: background, development and participation]

Area of Science:

• Psychosomatic Medicine
• Medical Psychology
• Psychotherapy

Context:

• Physicians and the public require accessible information on regional psychosomatic treatment options.
• A network website is proposed to facilitate this access.
• The study explores the willingness of the Austrian psychosomatic community to engage with such a network.

Purpose:

• To assess the readiness of the Austrian psychosomatic community for a network initiative.
• To gauge their willingness to actively contribute to a dedicated website for Psychosomatic Medicine.

Summary:

• All Austrian psychosomatic societies, in-patient facilities, and medical psychology/psychotherapy departments agreed to participate.
• One hundred private practice physicians specializing in psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic medicine also applied for network registration.
• These findings indicate strong support for the network concept.

Impact:

• The study's results support the implementation and further development of a network for Psychosomatic Medicine in Austria.
• Successful participation of key stakeholders suggests the network's foundational requirements are met.
• This initiative has the potential to enhance the dissemination of psychosomatic treatment information.