Psychotherapy of the medically ill

The author assesses the current status of psychotherapy with medically ill patients. He reviews the special problems of psychological treatment for this population; the respective rationales for the utilization of various psychotherapeutic approaches including psychoanalysis, dynamic psychotherapy and family and group therapy; and the results of case reports and research studies. The author identifies specific areas of future investigation and research, elucidates some specific implications for clinical practice, and recommends more critical exploration of the role of psychotherapy in the treatment of the medically ill.