Integration of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy is known to be more beneficial to the patients than the single therapy. Korean Academy of Psychotherapists have held several seminars about the combined therapy since 1981.
In this paper the author introduce the clinical aspects of integration of both therapies especially practiced by Dr. Rhee Dong-Shick.
Several factors contributing to the successful treatment by Dr. Rhee is as follows
1) Enhance the self - observation´ about the effect of the drug : He emphasize the "communication with the drug". For example, when the patient takes the tricyclic antidepressant, he recommends the patient to observe the sign of dry mouth or drowsiness. When the patient complains side effects he tells "It is the evidence that drug works."
2) Discuss the compliance with the patient: When the patient wants to be treated in spite of unwillingness to take the drug for any reason, he tells "If you do not want to take the drug in spite of my recommendation, let´s stop the medication and observe your symptoms". After a while the patient complains his symptoms and wants to take the drug. He does not insist the patient, but he only follows the patient. Such attitude is effective in the management of the inpatient who wants to be discharged. Of course in such a case the patient is insightful and not psychotic.
3) Every problems occurring during the medication is discussed with him under the therapeutic alliance.Therapists should know the positive and negative aspects of the combined therapy and limitation of the effect of each therapy. For example, pharmacotherapy is for the ´state disorder´ and psychotherapy is for the ´trait disorder´. In case of schizophrenia, mania, or panic disorder, pharmacotherapy should be applied with the psychotherapy, although the psychotherapy is the fundamental treatment.
The author also suggested the problems of cost effectiveness and two therapists for one patient situation.
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