Department of Psychological Medicine & Psychiatry

The Department of Psychological Medicine & Psychiatry at Peking Union Medical College Hospital was reorganized in May 2006. With the increasing attention and demand for mental health in society, the department adopts an appointment-based consultation system, combining psychotherapy with pharmacotherapy. It provides assistance to visitors troubled by psychological or emotional issues, patients suffering from functional symptoms due to psychological disorders, and those enduring psychological distress from chronic or severe illnesses.

Professor Wei Jing, the head of the department, has over 20 years of experience in the field of psychiatry/psychology within general hospitals and enjoys a prestigious reputation in both clinical and academic domains. He currently serves as a member of the Psychiatry Branch of the Chinese Medical Association, a member of the Consultation Psychiatry Group, a member of the Geriatric Psychiatry Group, and a member of the Anxiety Disorders Collaborative Group; he is also a member of the Psychiatry Branch of the Chinese Physician Association, the Vice Chair of the Psychosomatic Medicine Committee of the Chinese Mental Health Association, a council member of the Sleep Research Society, and a standing committee member of the Sleep and Psychology Committee; he is also a member of the Neuropsychology Group of the Neurology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association.

Since its reorganization, the department has established a training program suitable for specialists in this field. Continuing education for physicians at all levels is institutionalized. Clinical, academic, and research activities are regularized, including case discussions, academic reports and lectures, group psychological supervision, outpatient treatment supervision, and group training. Various measures are in place to ensure the continuous improvement of clinical skills among psychiatrists. For instance, three physicians completed a continuous training program for Gestalt therapy in Taiwan; two physicians participated in the 'China Collaborative Suicide Research Training Program (CCSRT)' funded by the NIH-Fogarty, with Associate Professor Hong Xia receiving NIH-Fogarty funding to study in the United States for one year and continue research in related fields; two physicians participated in a continuous training program for psychodynamic therapists in China and Norway.

The department currently serves as a training unit for master's and doctoral students in psychological medicine at the Peking Union Medical College Graduate School and as a continuing education unit for clinical physicians at PUMCH.

The medical work of the department encompasses both mental health and psychiatric services, currently focusing on the following main areas: psychiatric/psychological outpatient services, including emotional disorders, memory disorders, cognitive disorders, sleep disorders, neurotic disorders, eating disorders, and other psychosomatic and behavioral disorders. The diagnosis and treatment are standardized, detailed, and systematic, closely integrating pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy based on the actual conditions of patients. Additionally, outpatient services are characterized by efforts to create a comfortable and quiet environment; continuous improvements in outpatient arrangements and processes to make them more convenient and aligned with patient needs; emphasis on follow-up care; and routine appointment scheduling and telephone follow-ups, fully reflecting patient-centered humane care.

The consultation psychiatry work specifically addresses various types of mental disorders, psychological disorders, and psychological issues associated with somatic diseases within the hospital, organic mental disorders, medical communication suggestions, and medical crisis interventions. It provides professional services from multiple perspectives, including medical treatment, support for patients and families, and doctor-patient communication, reflecting a holistic concern for patients. The department also assigns personnel to be responsible for the mental and psychological work of specific wards based on the needs of other clinical departments, proactively moving service windows forward. The depth and breadth of this liaison work make it a pioneer among general hospitals in China. The interaction between somatic diseases, psychological states, and social factors directly affects the treatment outcomes. PUMCH gathers many patients with chronic diseases, complex conditions, and critical illnesses, where physiological, psychological, and social factors are significantly intertwined. The focus of the department's work is on psychological and psychosomatic issues related to various clinical specialties, safeguarding the medical work of all departments.

The department currently has 7 staff members, including 1 full professor, 1 associate professor, 2 attending physicians, 2 resident physicians, and 1 nurse. The department is located on the fourth floor of the outpatient building at the East Campus of PUMCH. It is equipped with an appointment desk, consultation rooms, and assessment rooms.

The medical work of the department encompasses both mental health and psychiatric services, currently focusing on the following main areas: psychiatric/psychological outpatient services, including emotional disorders, memory disorders, cognitive disorders, sleep disorders, neurotic disorders, eating disorders, and other psychosomatic and behavioral disorders. The diagnosis and treatment are standardized, detailed, and systematic, closely integrating pharmacotherapy with psychotherapy based on the actual conditions of patients. Additionally, outpatient services are characterized by efforts to create a comfortable and quiet environment; continuous improvements in outpatient arrangements and processes to make them more convenient and aligned with patient needs; emphasis on follow-up care; and routine appointment scheduling and telephone follow-ups, fully reflecting patient-centered humane care.

The consultation psychiatry work specifically addresses various types of mental disorders, psychological disorders, and psychological issues associated with somatic diseases within the hospital, organic mental disorders, medical communication suggestions, and medical crisis interventions. It provides professional services from multiple perspectives, including medical treatment, support for patients and families, and doctor-patient communication, reflecting a holistic concern for patients. The department also assigns personnel to be responsible for the mental and psychological work of specific wards based on the needs of other clinical departments, proactively moving service windows forward. The depth and breadth of this liaison work make it a pioneer among general hospitals in China. The interaction between somatic diseases, psychological states, and social factors directly affects the treatment outcomes. PUMCH gathers many patients with chronic diseases, complex conditions, and critical illnesses, where physiological, psychological, and social factors are significantly intertwined. The focus of the department's work is on psychological and psychosomatic issues related to various clinical specialties, safeguarding the medical work of all departments.

The early research work of the department primarily focused on neuropsychology. In 2002, Professor Wei Jing undertook a project from the Central Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health titled 'Research on Clinical Memory and Cognitive Function Changes in Elderly Patients with Depressive Disorders'; in 1997, Wei Jing and Hong Xia participated in a national commissioned research project by the National Science and Technology Commission titled 'Epidemiological Survey of Dementia and Parkinson's Disease in Six Provinces and Cities in China'; in 2001, Professor Wei Jing participated as a sub-project leader in a Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission project titled 'Standardization Research on Early Diagnosis Scales for Dementia'. The research on 'Clinical, Epidemiological, and Etiological Studies of Parkinson's Disease and Dementia' that Wei Jing and Hong Xia participated in won the first prize of the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award in 2006; the research on 'Epidemiology and Intervention Studies of Dementia and Parkinson's Disease' that Wei Jing participated in won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2008.

Since its official establishment, the department has participated in several clinical and epidemiological survey projects:

In 2006, as a collaborative unit, it worked with the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to apply for a national high-tech research and development program (863 Program) project titled 'Research on Standards and Interventions for Sub-health Diagnosis and Treatment', responsible for developing diagnostic and treatment methods for sub-health, which has been successfully completed.

As a collaborative unit, it worked with Beijing Anding Hospital of Capital Medical University to apply for a national '11th Five-Year' science and technology project titled 'Research on Early Diagnosis Methods and Standardized Comprehensive Treatment Models for Depression', responsible for early comprehensive intervention in clinical settings, completing standardized pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy according to the plan, and also responsible for the construction of a demonstration base in general hospitals.

As a collaborative unit, it worked with the Institute of Mental Health of Peking University to apply for a national '11th Five-Year' science and technology project titled 'Research on Early Identification and Treatment Optimization Plans for Neurosis', responsible for on-site surveys in general hospitals, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy (CBT), and neuropsychological assessments.

1. Participated in writing the 'Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Dementia in the Elderly' in the Chinese Medical Association's 'Series on Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders' (edited by Zhang Mingyuan).

2. Participated in writing the 'Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders' in the Chinese Medical Association's 'Series on Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders' (edited by Wu Wenyuan).

3. Participated in writing 'Geriatric Psychiatry' (edited by Yu Xin).

4. Participated in writing the national-level planning textbook 'Medical Psychology' for the '15th Five-Year' project (edited by Ji Jianlin).

5. Participated in writing 'Practical Critical Care Medicine' (edited by Liu Dawei).

6. Participated in writing the 'Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Insomnia and Insomnia Problems in China' in the Chinese Medical Association's 'Series on Prevention and Treatment of Mental Disorders' (edited by Chen Yanfang), currently in progress.

7. Audiovisual teaching materials for continuing medical education on 'Diagnosis and Treatment of Panic Disorder', 2004, Chinese Medical Electronic Audio-Visual Publishing House, author: Wei Jing.

8. Audiovisual teaching materials for continuing medical education on 'Recent Advances in Antidepressant Treatment' and 'Comprehensive Treatment of Emotional and Somatic Symptoms of Depression', 2005, Chinese Medical Electronic Audio-Visual Publishing House, author: Wei Jing.

(1) Professor Wei Jing participated in the 'Clinical, Epidemiological, and Etiological Studies of Parkinson's Disease and Dementia' which won the first prize of the Chinese Medical Science and Technology Award in 2007;

(2) Professor Wei Jing and Associate Professor Hong Xia participated in the 'Epidemiology and Intervention Studies of Dementia and Parkinson's Disease' which won the second prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2008.