Behavioral medicine. Broadening the interface between medicine and behavioral science

The work of psychotherapists who have a cognitive-behavioral orientation and are trained in time-limited, focused psychotherapy has proved to be beneficial in the setting of a comprehensive medical and health maintenance organization. Group interventions that deal with relaxation, social skills, depression, agoraphobia, smoking cessation, problem drinking, weight modification, and Type A behavior, to mention a few, are conducted on an ongoing basis, allowing staff to treat large numbers of people in a time-efficient and cost-effective way. These groups also help the staff to provide a coordinated set of therapeutic and training experiences for patients through their participation in appropriate group treatment during the course of their individual treatment.