RIAFP Policy
Brief: 10/18/00
Mental Health and Family Medicine
Family physicians
are uniquely suited to diagnose and treat patients with both physical
and emotional mental illnesses. Between 20-50 percent of all primary
care visits are for underlying mental health issues, such as depression
and personal or professional conflicts or stressors. These emotional
problems are often unrecognized by the person affected and present
themselves in the guise of a physical complaint such as heart palpitations,
headaches, stomach discomfort and musculoskeletal complaints. A significant
part of the work of family physicians is helping patients to understand
the cause of their discomfort, and treating the underlying cause.
Emotional and
mental disorders are pervasive. 30 to 50 percent of the general public
will experience depression at some time in their lives. Six to eight
percent of the population is depressed at any one time, with 22 percent
of the adult population having some type of mental health disorder.
Family doctors
are trained in counseling, family therapy, and psychopharmacology.
We treat most types of mental disorders working in conjunction with
other mental health professionals such as social workers, psychologists
and psychiatrists. Between 50-70% of all mental health problems in
the United States are treated only in the primary health care setting,
with the treatment of the other 30-50% representing collaboration
between primary care physicians and other mental health professionals.
The collaborative
model of mental health care where family physicians and other primary
care providers practice together with mental health professionals
has been shown to be particularly cost and treatment effective. Studies
suggest that the collaborative model of mental health care is 30-50%
more effective in treating depression than either primary care treatment
or mental health treatment alone, and achieves those results at 30
to 35 percent less cost than either primary care or mental health
treatment alone.
The Rhode Island
Academy of Family Physicians is the 140-member Rhode Island affiliate
of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the largest primary
care physician organization in the United States. We are committed
to building a health care system that is comprehensive, family-focused,
high quality, and well organized.
This is one
in a series of reports designed to advance Family Practice and primary
care in Rhode Island's health care system, as well as to discuss public
health issues of importance to all Rhode Islanders.
We welcome
the opportunity to further discuss the issues presented here. We can
be reached by phone at 401-453-4176, or by email at info@riafp.org.
10/18/00
