Beginning the Work of Integration: An Investigation of Primary Care Physicians' Attitudes Toward Psychiatry

The authors sought to better understand the attitudes of primary care physicians toward psychiatrists in order to assess their receptivity for further psychiatric education.

A survey about attitudes toward psychiatrists in comparison to other specialties was distributed among four family medicine residency programs at Southern Illinois University.

Respondents rated psychiatry lower than other specialties in the areas measured. However, family medicine physicians expressed a desire to work with psychiatrists and receive further education in psychiatry.

Favorable attitudes toward psychiatrists and education in psychiatry suggest the potential for additional family medicine training in psychiatry.