Management of the psychotic patient by the family physician

The management of psychotic illness has taken some new directions since 1950. One of the effects of these changes is increased responsibility for care of psychotic patients within their own community. Family physicians are expected to play a significant part in the pre-hospitalization and after-care for these patients and their families. A training program to equip the family physician to give such care should provide the physician with: (1) skills to detect incipient psychotic illness and the ability to intervene at this stage; (2) a working knowledge of the psychoactive drugs; (3) awareness of the available community resources and the ability to mobilize them to provide a network of support for the psychotic patient and his family; and (4) an understanding of family dynamics and behavior. A training program which encompasses these essential elements will allow the family physician to provide the type of care that his patients/families and his community expect of him.