There are two major models of consultation in the field of psychiatry,
differing in their goals, participants, settings, and methods. The
psychiatric-therapeutic model entails provision of optimal care for the
individual patient; the community mental health model involves provision of
assistance to mental health caregivers. The author believes that to enhance
the value of consultation the consultation should restrict his or her role
to that for which he or she has been trained. Current social needs, coupled
with a limited supply of consultants, suggest that psychiatric consultation
should be provided within comprehensive health care systems. There is a
pressing need to clarify the concepts of formulations concerning the
criteria of outcome of psychiatric consultation so that evaluation of its
effectiveness can be advanced.Abstract Teaser