Psychiatric-Orthopedic Liaison in the Hospital Management of the Amputee War Casualty

Abstract

The authors, then military physicians, collaborated over a year and a half on the evolution of a psychiatric-orthopedic liaison in the hospital management of amputee war casualties. From a situation of minimal professional contact, the authors initiated a program leading to a strong working relationship between the psychiatrist and nonpsychiatrist members of the orthopedic team. The psychiatrist's regular presence during ward rounds as well as his availability to talk with staff on an informal basis helped to diminish some of the usual mistrust and misunderstanding of psychiatry so common in general hospital settings. Brief examples highlight how the sharing of raw clinical data by the psychiatrist and team members can teach the staff psychiatric principles and increase their awareness and skills in dealing with the emotional side of patient care.