Tzipi Hornik-Lurie, Julie Cwikel, Nelly Zilber, Marjorie C Feinson, Aya Biderman, Yaacov Lerner
{"title":"Does Specializing in Family Medicine Improve the Detection and Diagnosis of Mental Health Problems?","authors":"Tzipi Hornik-Lurie, Julie Cwikel, Nelly Zilber, Marjorie C Feinson, Aya Biderman, Yaacov Lerner","doi":"","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Approximately half the patients seeking mental health (MH) treatment consult primary care practitioners (PCPs). Previous research indicates that patients often do not receive correct MH diagnoses or appropriate treatment from PCPs. The present study examines whether a specialization in family medicine compared to other or no PCP residency programs enhances physicians' ability to detect, diagnose and treat MH problems.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Face-to-face interviews with 49 physicans in eight clinics in Israel. Two case vignettes and questionnaires assess MH awareness and factors influencing treatment.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significantly more family practitioners (FPs) compared to others correctly diagnosed depression and anxiety vignettes were aware of patients' MH problems and prescribed psychotropic drugs.</p><p><strong>Limitations: </strong>Small sample size, indirect examination of PCPs' skills using vignettes and the absence of psychotherapy options.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>FPs are more likely than other PCPs to detect, diagnose and treat MH problems. To improve MH detection among a broad range of PCPs, an expanded MH curriculum should be encouraged. Additional MH training should be available for all PCPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":49288,"journal":{"name":"Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.5000,"publicationDate":"2016-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Israel Journal of Psychiatry and Related Sciences","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Approximately half the patients seeking mental health (MH) treatment consult primary care practitioners (PCPs). Previous research indicates that patients often do not receive correct MH diagnoses or appropriate treatment from PCPs. The present study examines whether a specialization in family medicine compared to other or no PCP residency programs enhances physicians' ability to detect, diagnose and treat MH problems.
Methods: Face-to-face interviews with 49 physicans in eight clinics in Israel. Two case vignettes and questionnaires assess MH awareness and factors influencing treatment.
Results: Significantly more family practitioners (FPs) compared to others correctly diagnosed depression and anxiety vignettes were aware of patients' MH problems and prescribed psychotropic drugs.
Limitations: Small sample size, indirect examination of PCPs' skills using vignettes and the absence of psychotherapy options.
Conclusions: FPs are more likely than other PCPs to detect, diagnose and treat MH problems. To improve MH detection among a broad range of PCPs, an expanded MH curriculum should be encouraged. Additional MH training should be available for all PCPs.
期刊介绍:
THE ISRAEL JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY publishes original articles dealing with the all bio-psycho-social aspects of psychiatry. While traditionally the journal has published manuscripts relating to mobility, relocation, acculturation, ethnicity, stress situations in war and peace, victimology and mental health in developing countries, papers addressing all aspects of the psychiatry including neuroscience, biological psychiatry, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy and ethics are welcome. The Editor also welcomes pertinent book reviews and correspondence. Preference is given to research reports of no more than 5,000 words not including abstract, text, references, tables and figures. There should be no more than 40 references and 4 tables or figures. Brief reports (1,500 words, 5 references) are considered if they have heuristic value. Books to be considered for review should be sent to the editorial office. Selected book reviews are invited by the editor.