21 - Psychiatry in primary care

Summary

Primary care occupies a position of utmost importance in the management of mental health problems. A significant proportion of patients with mental health problems in primary care have a poor prognosis. Somatisation has been described as the expression of psychological distress through physical symptoms, and it appears to be a universal phenomenon that is ubiquitous across cultures. The use of case-finding tools has been advocated to improve recognition rates of mental health problems in primary care. A number of strategies have been used in an attempt to improve outcomes of patients with mental health problems in primary care. The interface between primary care and psychiatric services is of key importance in the delivery of mental health services. An increasing number of treatments have proved beneficial in the primary care setting. These include medication, cognitive-behavioural techniques, and problem-solving techniques, reattribution skills for somatisation, counselling, self-help and bibliotherapy.