[Clinical Crisis Intervention in the Somatic Setting: A Scoping Review]

Area of Science:

• Medical Social Work
• Clinical Psychology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Clinical settings present stressful events for patients, relatives, and staff (second victims).
• These events, including patient deaths or violence, can precipitate psychological distress and crises.
• A need exists to understand existing psychosocial support services within somatic clinics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of existing literature on psychosocial support services in somatic clinics.
• To identify variations in these services, particularly concerning target groups.
• To synthesize current knowledge on the provision and impact of psychosocial support in somatic medicine.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive database searches (CINAHL, BASE, MEDLINE, Springer Medizin) and hand searches were performed.
• Inclusion criteria focused on English- and German-language articles concerning psychosocial support in somatic medicine.
• A total of 68 publications were systematically reviewed.

Main Results:

• A significant heterogeneity and complexity in psychosocial support services were identified.
• Increased discussion regarding psychosocial stress in daily clinical practice was evident.
• Services were linked to psychological and emotional relief, improved mental health, and enhanced patient safety.

Conclusions:

• Psychosocial support services are crucial for mitigating stress in clinical environments.
• Peer support programs demonstrate a substantial positive economic impact, saving over €1.5 billion annually.
• Further implementation and research into effective psychosocial support are warranted for improved healthcare outcomes.