Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:52-57
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
How primary care physicians treat psychiatric disorders: a national survey of family practitioners
CT Orleans, LK George, JL Houpt and HK Brodie
A survey of 350 family practice physicians nationwide showed that 22.6% of
their patients had significant psychiatric disorders. Physicians reported
treating most psychiatric problems themselves, usually through a
combination of psychotropic drugs, advice, and reassurance. The results
suggest that anxiolytics are more conservatively used and referrals for
mental health care more often made than past studies indicate. Physicians
cited patient resistance and time limitations as the most important
barriers to primary care mental health treatment, followed by limited
third-party payment for mental health services, poor coordination between
the primary care and mental health care sectors, and insufficient training
to treat psychiatric disorders.
