Spanish perspective on enlarging a small specialty: the national research network for liaison psychiatry and psychosomatics.

The Spanish Research Network in Liaison Psychiatry and Psychosomatics (REPEP) comprises 11 centers (nodes), and was one of the successful applicants in a very competitive call for a networking program for the National Institute of Health "Carlos III" project. This article describes its general objectives and strategic plans. Both qualitative and quantitative results support our statement that this "perspective" should help to enlarge what is presently a small specialty. Synergies in the network have been potentiated; an ambitious national study on depressive comorbidity in complex medical patients has been executed; and new research and training programs have been initiated.