This companion book to the curriculum "Psychosomatic Basic Care" is aimed at all physicians who wish to acquire and further develop knowledge and skills in psychosomatic medicine. What happens when a patient and a doctor meet for the first time in practice or in the hospital? This process, which often lasts only five to ten minutes, is examined here "in slow motion," from both the doctor's and the patient's perspectives. Each individual step from diagnosis to therapy is meticulously traced and theoretically justified.

Contents include:

• Recognizing the most common psychological and psychosomatic problems and disorders
• Opportunities for personal counseling and treatment offers
• Timely and targeted referral to specialized psychotherapy

The editors: Prof. Dr. Kurt Fritzsche, physician for I.