[Psychology in medical rehabilitation]

Integral cooperation of a clinical psychologist or psychotherapist in an internal medicine rehabilitation clinic is required because the presence of (contributory) psychic causes is evident beyond any doubt in numerous complaint syndromes. Regrettably, decision-making bodies frequently fail to acknowledge the necessity of competent psychological help. Various activities have developed as specific psychotherapeutic tasks, among them individual interviewing and above all group work (client-centered psychotherapy, staff-client meetings, health education, autogenic relaxation training, creativity therapy, biofeedback, and so on). Client-centered psychotherapy indications are outlined. Medical psychology, psychotherapy, and psychosomatic aspects of disease concepts must not be ignored if major concerns in medial rehabilitation and inpatient rehabilitative treatment programmes are to be dealt with effectively.