Bio-psycho-social Obstetrics and Gynecology ─ A Competency-oriented Approach

This book will assist the reader by providing individually tailored, high-quality bio-psycho-social care to patients with a wide range of problems within the fields of obstetrics, gynaecology, fertility, oncology, and sexology. Each chapter addresses a particular theme, issue, or situation in a problem-oriented and case-based manner that emphasizes the differences between routine and bio-psycho-social care. Relevant facts and figures are presented, advice is provided regarding the medical, psychological, and caring process, and contextual aspects are discussed. The book offers practical tips and actions within the bio-psycho-social approach, and highlights important do’s and don’ts. To avoid a strict somatic thinking pattern, the importance of communication, multidisciplinary collaboration, and creation of a working alliance with the patient is emphasized. The book follows a consistent format, designed to meet the needs of challenged clinicians.

Dr. K.M. Paarlberg is Obstetrician-gynecologist in Gelre Hospitals, location Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. She is the Principal Tutor of Ob/Gyn residents and residents in training for tropical medicine and international health. Her PhD Thesis in 1999 was titled ‘Stress exposure and pregnancy outcome: A psychosocial and biochemical study’. Her main focuses are: perinatal medicine, psychosomatic aspects of Ob/Gyn and sexology. She has been President of the International Society of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISPOG) and President of the Dutch Working Party on Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology (WPOG) of the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her research projects concern implementation of a screen- and advice tool for psychiatric and psychosocial risk factors and substance abuse in pregnant women, depression in pregnancy, PTSD following childbirth, fear of childbirth, genital appearance satisfaction and request for labia reduction surgery. For her work in the psychosocial field she has received the Hector Treub Award in 2009.

Prof. dr. H.B.M. van de Wiel wrote his Ph.D thesis (cum laude) in 1991 on ‘Sexual functioning after gynecological cancer treatment’. From 1998 until now he has a full professorship in medical psychology in the University Medical Centre in Groningen (the Netherlands). His current specializations are Communication & Collaboration, Clinical leadership, Medical Education and E-learning. He has received many awards for his work on patient education and counseling, especially on patient empowerment. He is registered as a psychotherapist and for twelve years he was editor in chief of the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology.