A tale of two societies.

Although consultation-liaison psychiatry grew out of the general hospital psychiatry movement, the American Psychosomatic Society has played a vital role in nurturing the discipline. Through the Society's journal, Psychosomatic Medicine, and its meetings, consultation psychiatry continues to stay in the mainstream. The subspecialty has developed in both content and strength to merit a focused organization, the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. The role of both organizations in the development of consultation-liaison psychiatry is discussed and recommendations for future collaborative activities are suggested.