[Consultation-liaison psychiatry--the clinical couterpart of psychosomatics]

Consultation-liaison psychiatry (C-L psychiatry) was founded in the USA in the 1930's as a clinical pendant of Psychosomatic medicine. By support and grants provided from the NIMH (National Institute for Mental Health) during the 1970's and 1980's, C-L psychiatry has now become an integrated part of the health care system in the USA. C-L psychiatric services are now being established in some European countries also. The aim of this review has thus been to introduce the C-L psychiatry sub-specialty to a Danish audience.