The relationship of psychiatry to primary care

Although it is not officially considered a primary care specialty, psychiatry is intimately related to training and practice in fields that are so designated. The primary care physician must have expertise in interviewing, counseling, psychophysiological disease, dependence syndromes, etc.--all areas in which psychiatry has a body of knowledge and intervention techniques. It is recommended that all primary care training programs develop behavioral objectives in the areas of mental illness and psychosocial aspects of disease; active liaison and consultation with departments of psychiatry should be an integral part of these programs. The author presents suggestions for possible program design and notes that the relationship between psychiatry and primary care specialties is a continuing challenge to the field.