Vienna (OTS) – On April 20, 2004, the Sisters of Mercy Hospital Vienna opened the first psychosomatic day clinic in the federal capital, thereby further expanding its specialized pioneering role in the treatment of psychosomatic illnesses.
The need for psychosomatic therapy offerings continues to grow: more than thirty years ago, the Barmwärme Sisters Hospital Vienna responded to the need of the time and founded a department for psychosomatics in 1993, particularly specializing in eating disorders and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases. A pioneering work by today’s specialist clinic, because outside of psychiatry there was no care for these affected people in Austria. In 2004, another milestone was set with the day clinic in order to best meet the care needs of patients. “The close interaction between body and psyche is still too often underestimated.”
, emphasizes Primaria Dr. Larisa Dzirlo, head of the III. Medical Department of Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics.
numbers and facts
The day clinic is a separate form of treatment that enables intensive therapy while maintaining and paying particular attention to the social context. Over eight weeks, the program takes place Monday to Friday according to a structured daily routine from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in a closed group of around eight patients. The multi-professional therapy concept includes medical internal and psychiatric treatment, various forms of psychotherapy, psychoeducation, creativity promotion, physiotherapeutic units and dietary care. After discharge, continued psychotherapy makes sense for most patients. In the day clinic’s two decades, a total of around 1,000 patients with psychosomatic illnesses have received medical care. In addition, over 760 inpatient treatments are now recorded every year. The average patient is around 45 years old, around three quarters are female.
About the clinical pictures
Psychosocial factors such as acute or chronic stress, depression, anxiety and lack of social support are linked to an increased risk of illness and a less favorable course of the disease. Among the most common diseases that occur in the III. In addition to eating disorders, chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), functional gastrointestinal disorders and metabolic diseases, the medical department for internal medicine and psychosomatics also includes depression, anxiety disorders and somatoform disorders. The anamnesis is always holistic. A multi-professional team of specialists from the fields of internal medicine, psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychology, clinical psychology, qualified nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics, social work and pastoral care bring their many years of expertise to the therapies. Since 2018 the department has been under the direction of Primaria Dr. Larisa Dzirlo, MSc, specialist in internal medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology, doctor in psychosomatic medicine, and psychotherapist. “Psychosomatic complaints and illnesses are unfortunately often misunderstood in society and are subject to prejudice, but these are serious illnesses that should neither be taboo nor shameful.”
Primaria Dzirlo pleads for an enlightened approach to the topic.
Current treatment offers
The Sisters of Mercy Hospital in Vienna currently offers two inpatient therapies with a stay of three or, if necessary, eight weeks, as well as a full-day, eight-week outpatient therapy in the day clinic for those affected with psychosomatic illnesses. Due to the growing demand for day hospital treatments, the offering was expanded in 2015: As part of the Coping School, people with obesity are offered a flexible treatment program lasting ten weeks once a week. The following applies to all offers: Admission only takes place after an initial outpatient consultation and you are required to be of legal age and voluntary. All therapy programs are covered by health insurance companies. There are four outpatient clinics in the department: the psychosomatic clinic, the Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel clinic, the conservative obesity clinic and the diabetes clinic. In addition to the care in the specialist clinic, there is also sowhatdem Competence center for people with eating disorderswhich has been part of the Vinzenz Group Service since 2017, has another specialized outpatient clinic available to those affected.
Contact the ambulances
By telephone from Monday to Thursday between 8 a.m. and 12 p.m. on +43 1 599 88–3200 or online around the clock at www.bhswien.at/terminanfrage.
Sisters of Mercy Hospital Vienna
The hospital is an acute care hospital in the middle of Vienna. The focus is on the entire digestive tract, urology, oncology and psychosomatics. The colon cancer, obesity and pelvic floor centers offer a broad and interdisciplinary range of therapies.
Our clinic’s charitable offerings are financed from funds from the Vienna Health Fund. Further information on www.bhswien.at
Vinzenz Group: Health comes from the heart
In the spirit of our Christian founders, we are committed to a healthcare system in Austria in which competent medicine and care come from the heart. Non-profit status is our principle. Our religious hospitals, nursing homes, housing options for people who want care, rehabilitation facilities and prevention services are open to everyone – regardless of their denomination or social status. www.vinzenzgruppe.at
Questions & Contact:
Mag. Natascha Halbauer
Communication
Sisters of Mercy Hospital Vienna
so what. Competence Center for Eating Disorders
Stumpergasse 13, 1060 Vienna
T: +43 1 59988-6739
M: +43 664 88493274
E: natascha.halbauer@bhs.at