[Psychotherapy in pediatric practice (in psychosomatic diseases)]

Approximately 30-50% of the children in a pediatric practice have psychological problems. Their complaints can be due to organic or psychological causes and the appropriate treatment can obviously only be given if these are properly understood. The delineation of competence within the field of social-pediatric treatment should indicate when a pediatrician in his surgery would be competent to deal with the problems ansing. Using psychosomatic discases as a model, the possible methods of treatment as well as differences in diagnosis and therapy and their influence on the course and prognosis are shown. These experiences serve as the basis for the ensuing discussion as the methods and possibilities for an expansion of the psycho-social competence of the pediatrician.