Psychiatric co-treatment for physical illnesses is of central importance for optimal medical care. Studies show that over a third of all inpatients in general hospitals suffer from relevant mental health problems.
We provide psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care for all patients hospitalized at the USZ and are one of the largest departments for consultation and liaison psychiatry in Switzerland with almost 30 employees.
Our goal is the optimal prevention, recording and treatment of mental illnesses on our wards.
We are firmly integrated into the team on individual wards, take part in ward rounds, case conferences and case discussions and actively seek you out. In other cases, your attending ward doctor will register a consultation with us, which will be carried out on the ward.
The reasons for a consultation with our service are manifold. Many people develop emotional reactions to physical illnesses or accidents with sadness, depression and anxiety, which can further restrict their quality of life. Your relatives may also need temporary professional support to ease the burden.
Some clinical pictures, known as psychosomatic complaints, are characterized by physical symptoms that are (partly) caused by psychological factors. During the consultation, possible psychosocial stress factors will be identified and you will be informed about treatment options.
After major surgery or during intensive care, metabolic changes in the brain can lead to temporary states of confusion (“delirium“) that require psychiatric treatment.
In the case of addiction, withdrawal symptoms requiring treatment may occur in hospital. If you wish, we can also advise you on inpatient or outpatient weaning treatment after discharge.
You may already be suffering from a pre-existing mental illness. Physical illnesses and associated therapies can have an influence on psychological symptoms or the metabolism of your medication. We will be happy to advise you and the colleagues treating you to ensure the effectiveness of your psychiatric treatment in hospital.
We assess and treat acute suicidal tendencies and provide psychiatric and psychotherapeutic support to people who have been hospitalized after a suicide attempt.
The type of treatment is individually adapted to your psychological stress or illness. In addition to counseling sessions conducted with you alone or together with your relatives, various psychotherapeutic methods are used, such as crisis intervention techniques, supportive psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and the use of relaxation methods. If necessary, we suggest a drug therapy in consultation with the treating colleagues.
Care is provided in close cooperation with all professional groups involved in the treatment.
In order to ensure that you receive the best possible psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care following inpatient treatment at the USZ, we will support you in organizing further inpatient or outpatient treatment. We work closely with various psychiatric and psychosomatic clinics throughout Switzerland, with our outpatient clinic and with colleagues in private practice.
As a patient, you cannot register directly for a consultation. Please get a referral from your primary care physician, specialist.
Simply assign your patient to us online.
University Hospital Zurich
Department of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatic Medicine
Culmannstrasse 8
8091 Zurich