Offer
Our mission is to consistently incorporate the biopsychosocial approach into somatic medicine. We offer specific assessments and treatment for the entire psychosomatic spectrum. Our work focuses on people with functional physical complaints (irritable bowel syndrome, tinnitus, dizziness), chronic pain, adjustment problems associated with physical illnesses, including psycho-oncology, obesity and eating disorders.
As a psychosomatic consultation and liaison service, we provide support across the entire campus. Patients from the USB or from outside can be registered at the psychosomatic outpatient clinic.
As a classic cross-sectional subject, the Department of Psychosomatics at the University Hospital Basel is very strongly interdisciplinary and interprofessionally networked and in this role is a member of various medical centers (see below).
Consultation hours
Irritable bowel syndrome consultation
The irritable bowel syndrome consultation at the Department of Psychosomatics at the University Hospital Basel is a service for patients with suspected or already diagnosed irritable bowel syndrome, irritable stomach syndrome or another functional gastrointestinal disorder.
Prerequisites for presentation in our consultation hours:
- Appointments only after medical referral by means of a referral form
- As a rule, the following preliminary examinations should have taken place:
- Laboratory: Diff-BB, electrolytes, liver, kidney, pancreas, BSG, CRP, TSH, U-status
- Coeliac disease serology: Transglutaminase-Ak, IgA-total
- Abdominal sonography
- Gastroscopy with duodenal biopsies
- Ileocolonoscopy
- Gyn. Examination (for women)
- Stool examination: calprotectin bacteriology, clostridia, parasites
- Please bring previous findings with you to the outpatient appointment!
Biopsychosocial approach
We follow a biopsychosocial approach in diagnostics and therapy, i.e. both physical and psychosocial aspects are included as triggering or maintaining factors and the interaction of symptoms with life circumstances is taken into account. Depending on the problem, we cooperate on an interdisciplinary basis with gastroenterology, allergology and nutritional counseling.
Procedure
After the differential diagnostic classification, an evidence- and guideline-based staged therapy planning and treatment initiation is carried out based on the disorder, subtype and severity. The development of an individualized biopsychosocial explanatory model along the brain-gut axis plays an important role here.
Multimodal therapy
Depending on the factors involved, we generally derive a multimodal therapy from the explanatory model, which is based on the following pillars:
- If necessary, nutritional measures - usually with referral to nutritional counseling
- General measures: dosed physical activation
- Psychosocial measures: possibly learning abdominal self-hypnosis, relaxation techniques, possibly initiating psychotherapy
- Symptom-oriented medication if necessary
Research
We ask all patients of the irritable bowel syndrome consultation to support scientific studies in this context for research into functional gastrointestinal disorders.
Registration and contact
University Hospital Basel
Clinic for Psychosomatics
Hebelstrasse 2
CH-4031 Basel
Phone +41 61 265 52 94
sekretariat-psychosomatik@usb.ch
Here you can find the referral form.
Interdisciplinary consultation for eating problems and underweight
Our interdisciplinary consultation for eating problems and underweight combines specialist expertise from the Clinic for Psychosomatics and Endocrinology. We offer holistic support to people with any degree of underweight or various forms of eating problems.
We rely on comprehensive diagnostics that take physical and psychosocial factors into account in order to gain a broad understanding of the individual situation. On this basis, we work with our patients to develop an individually tailored treatment plan that addresses not only the symptoms but also the causes of the underweight.
For patients whose condition requires somatic stabilization, inpatient admission can be organized in collaboration with our internal medicine department. Our approach is based on an interdisciplinary and interprofessional treatment concept that is specifically tailored to the complex challenges of severe eating problems and underweight.
Registration and contact
ess-ambulanz@usb.ch
Phone +41 61 265 52 94 (Psychosomatics office)
Special consultation hours for patients and relatives after a stay in the intensive care unit (post-ICU consultation hours)
The post-ICU consultation is a special consultation for patients and their relatives after a stay in the intensive care unit. The aim of this consultation is to discuss and process what has been experienced in the intensive care unit, for example after resuscitation or other serious illness. In the case of mostly complex illnesses, the aim is to ensure that the patient's medical history is reviewed and clarifications and therapies are completed where necessary and appropriate.
Difficult issues often arise between life and death and it is not uncommon for relatives of ICU patients to develop post-traumatic stress disorders. The interprofessional consultation is conducted by Prof. Sabina Hunziker (Deputy Head of Psychosomatic Medicine, LA Medical Communication) and Mr. Christian Emsden (MScN, Head of Nursing APN Intensive Care Unit/Dipl. Exp. Intensive Care NDS HF).
Make an appointment (Dept. of Medical Communication):
E-mail: erika.huggel@usb.ch
Tel. +41 61 328 56 62 (Tue and Thu only)
Here you can find the flyer of the post-ICU consultation hours and further information here (Department of Medical Communication) and here (APN Nursing).
Group therapy offers
Pain management for patients with chronic pain and little knowledge of German
Group therapy is suitable for patients with little knowledge of German who suffer from chronic musculoskeletal pain. Suitability and motivation for group therapy are assessed during a preliminary discussion. As soon as a place becomes available in the group, the patient can take part in the weekly sessions (usually for a maximum of two years).
In group therapy, patients learn in simple, understandable language how pain can become chronic. In joint discussions and exercises, our biopsychosocial approach is communicated and it is shown how physical activity, thoughts and behavior can improve the management of chronic pain.
Our focus is on an active movement component, psychoeducation in simple language and learning relaxation techniques.
The program is led by a psychologist and a physiotherapist.
For information and registration, please contact Sabrina Elia, M.Sc. psychologist, tel.+41 61 328 51 83, or the secretary's office of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, tel.+41 61 265 52 94.
Referral procedure: In order for you to participate in this group program, we require a referral from your family doctor or previous therapist.
Group therapy for active tinnitus management
Suitable for people with chronic tinnitus.
In an initial interdisciplinary consultation, it is clarified whether the patient is suitable for group treatment and whether they wish to attend the weekly sessions on a regular basis.
The psychological treatment program comprises 10 sessions of 1.5 hours, once a week, and is led by a psychologist. The ENT specialist attends the first two sessions and the last one.
The aim is for the patient to learn how to deal with and live better with tinnitus using specific methods and techniques. The aim is to improve the quality of life.
Information and registration:
ENT outpatient clinic office
Tinnitus consultation
Phone +41 61 265 53 76
Mode of referral:
In order for you to participate in this group program, we need a referral from your family doctor or previous therapist.
Improving quality of life through mindfulness - discontinued as of 31.12.2023
Note: This group therapy can no longer be offered in 2024. This offer was discontinued at the end of 2023.
Suitable for people with current or chronic complaints or with impairments caused by anxiety, depression and insomnia who are looking for a useful supplement to medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.
An individual introductory talk, 8 weekly appointments of 2.5 hours each, a full day of exercise (Saturday 10 am - 4 pm), an individual follow-up talk. The costs are covered by health insurance.
Group dates 2023
Group 1
Monday 17.30-20.00:
6.2., 13.2., 20.2., 6.3., 13.3., 20.3., 27.3., 17.4.
+ consolidation day (10.00-16.00): Sat, 1.4.2023
Group 2
Monday 17.30-20.00:
16.10., 23.10., 30.10., 6.11., 13.11., 20.11., 27.11., 04.12.
+ consolidation day (10.00-16.00): Sat, 2.12.2023
Refresher course in 2023 for former participants (3 evening dates):
Monday 17.30-19.30:
28.8., 4.9., 11.9.
Information and registration:
Franziska Weeren
Tel. +41 61 328 68 04
Referral procedure:
In order for you to take part in this group therapy program, we need a referral from your family doctor or psychotherapist.
Improving quality of life through mindfulness in chronic illness - discontinued as of 31.12.2023
Note: This group therapy can no longer be offered in 2024. This offer was discontinued at the end of 2023.
This group offer is suitable for people who want to learn how to cope better with the challenges of the illness or who are looking for a supplement to medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.
An individual introductory meeting, 8 weekly appointments of 2.5 hours each (5.30-8pm), a full day of consolidation (Saturday 10am-4pm), an individual follow-up meeting. The costs are covered by health insurance.
Group dates 2023
Thursday 5.30 - 8.00 pm:
7.9., 14.9., 21.9., 28.9., 12.10., 19.10., 26.10., 9.11.
Consolidation day (10.00 - 16.00): Sat, 21.10.2023
Information and registration:
Franziska Weeren
Tel. +41 61 328 68 04
franziska.weeren@usb.ch
Assignment mode:
In order for you to take part in this group program, we require a doctor's referral.
Ongoing studies
Basler Long COVID Study
We are looking for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) to test a digital treatment program for PCS as part of a study. The study is a collaboration between the Medical Polyclinic and the Department of Psychosomatics at the University Hospital Basel and is funded by the "Horizon Europe Long Covid" project. The digital program offers participants the opportunity to engage with PCS-related content for up to 15 minutes a day over a period of 12 weeks. Specific topics include energy management, sleep, stress management, physiotherapy guidance, as well as mental health, acceptance and self-care. We also show relaxation techniques, breathing exercises and pacing strategies.
You can find more information in our study flyer.
Those interested in the study can contact the study team at dilcos@usb.ch.
Membership of the management committees of the following medical centers at the USB
Various members of the Department of Psychosomatics are part of the management committees of the Spine Center, the Tumor Center and the University Center for Dizziness and Balance Disorders at the USB.