The staff of a big general hospital is a community of people with all the alliances and conflicts developing within it. The child psychiatrist works primarily with the pediatricians and the nurses but also with other specialized people of this community. Pediatricians require a prompt answer to their call, clarity of communication and effectiveness. Child psychiatrists complain among other things that they are often invited a little before the discharge of the child, that their instructions are frequently not followed and that they are not informed about the discharge of the patient so to make adequate planning. At the hospital prejudices may exist about child psychiatry which have to be overcome by the specialist. Meetings between child psychiatrists and pediatricians regarding their common patients are helpful in the development of alliances as well as for the appreciation of the knowledge and the understanding of patients which a child psychiatrist can communicated. Teaching pediatric residents knowledge regarding child development elements of psychopathology and of the function of families helps them to become acquainted with child psychiatry. The same possibility is offered through the daily clinical work of a child psychiatrist. Contact with the nursing staff is necessary in order to improve patient care and staff cooperation. Relationships developed in the context of consultation liaison child psychiatry are frequently modified and under review but can also help to the establishment of respect for the work offered by a child psychiatrist.

Key words: Child psychiatry, consultation-liaison, interpersonal relationship

M. Liakopoulou (page 150) - Full article (Greek)