The European Association of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics and its relationship to the journal
Article Outline
Since last year, the Journal of Psychosomatic Research has been the official journal of the European Association of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics (EACLPP) as well as continuing its official link with the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine [1]. The EACLPP was founded in 1997 as an organisation of psychiatrists and psychosomaticists working at the interface of medicine, psychiatry, and psychosomatics. Its origins lie in the European Consultation Liaison Workgroup (ECLW). In 1991, helped with research funds from the European Union, this workgroup started a large multinational study that documented the organisation, the patient population, and working methods of 56 consultation services in 11 European countries [2]. This collaboration yielded essential information for the further developments of consultation liaison (CL) services. The close and informal contacts between the members of this workgroup eventually led to the formation of the EACLPP, an organisation that aims to promote the clinical, scientific, and educational activities within the field of CL psychiatry and psychosomatics in Europe. It does so by forming working groups around topics that are of importance to all CL psychiatrists, irrespective of their nationality, such as the working group on “training guidelines in CL psychiatry”, which is published in this issue [3].
A major activity of the association is the yearly conference. In 2006, this will take place in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 15 to 17 June (for more information, see http://www.eaclpp.org). The EACLPP is a growing association that is initiating an increasing number of activities in the area of CL psychiatry and psychosomatics. It is actively trying to expand its activities towards the new EU member states in Eastern Europe and aims to work closer together with other leading organisations in the field, such as its transatlantic sister organisation, the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine.
Until now, the liaison between the journal and the EACLPP may have only been obvious from the notice inside the journal's front cover and the publication of abstracts of the annual EACLPP conference. This is about to change. Under the agreement between Elsevier and the journal's editorial board, the EACLPP has the right to fill 24 journal pages per year with EACLPP-related topics. Contributions to these EACLPP pages of the journal will not be formally peer reviewed, but they will be subject to editorial approval by at least two members of the EACLPP Board. Guidelines for contributions to these EACLP pages are given in the “instructions for authors” section at the back of the journal. The contributions may be descriptions of developments and initiatives in countries that are involved in the EACLPP. They may also be consensus statements or guidelines prepared by various EACLPP workgroups, or reports on other EACLPP activities. As you will have noticed, the first few of these contributions were published in the December 2005 issue. By publishing these contributions the journal wants to reach out to clinicians in the field and provide them with useful information on the organisation of services, training, and other practical aspects of CL psychiatry. It also wants to emphasize the importance of clinical service development, alongside research activities. By paying attention to local, national, and supranational initiatives and developments, the journal as well as the EACLPP hopes to broaden their perspective on CL psychiatry, engage a wider readership, and contribute to the development of improved services and patient care.
This close alliance with the EACLPP does not deflect in any way from the openness to receive and publish papers from a wide variety of scientists and clinicians who are contributing to the success of the journal. The journal believes there is strength in diversity, and the close arrangement with the EACLPP does not change the close relationship with the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine and other organisations that are relevant to the broad area of furthering knowledge in psychosomatic medicine and CL psychiatry. The recent increase in the impact factor indicates the scientific strength of the journal upon which we wish to build.
Professor Francis Creed (Editor, Manchester Office), Dr Colin Shapiro (Editor, Toronto Office)
References
- . The journal, the EACLPP and the ICPM (editorial). J Psychosom Res. 2004;56:555–556
- . The European Consultation–Liason Workgroup (ECLW) collaborative study: I General outline. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1996;18:44–55
- . European guidelines for training in consultation liaison psychiatry and psychosomatics. J Psychosom Res. 2006;60:
PII: S0022-3999(05)00506-4
doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2005.12.001
© 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
