The general hospital's systemic approach in liaison psychiatry: A different way to handle catastrophic situations

Facing a catastrophic situation, the intervention of a psychiatrist at the hospital should not be limited to an individual approach. The systemic approach has the advantage of reducing the division between caregivers, patients and families. Psychiatrists have the opportunity to help care teams to restore a more comprehensive and humane approach. For this, they must develop a home setting for patients and their families. Caregivers then become a reference for them. Through a clinical illustration experienced in an ICU, we describe how psychiatrists can act at group level. The goal is to help teams help families facing catastrophic situations without becoming disorganized. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.