BATHE: an approach to the interview process in the primary care setting

Area of Science:

• Healthcare delivery
• Primary care medicine
• Mental health integration

Background:

• The American healthcare system is evolving, shifting focus from solely treating illness to proactive health maintenance.
• There's a recognized need to improve mental health identification and care within primary care settings.
• Physicians are increasingly incentivized to detect and treat diseases early, including mental health conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and recommend the BATHE technique for primary care practitioners.
• To enhance the ability of primary care providers to recognize mental health issues.
• To facilitate efficient psychosocial assessments and patient support.

Main Methods:

• The study recommends the BATHE (Background, Affect, Troubling, Handling, Empathy) technique.
• This technique is designed for developing a psychosocial history.
• It aims to be a succinct and efficient method for practitioners.

Main Results:

• The BATHE technique enables primary care practitioners to efficiently uncover psychosocial problems.
• This method assists in providing support to patients addressing mental health issues.
• Implementation can lead to better identification of underrecognized mental health conditions.

Conclusions:

• The BATHE technique is a valuable tool for primary care providers to integrate mental health screening.
• Adoption of this technique can improve patient outcomes by addressing psychosocial factors.
• This approach supports the broader shift towards comprehensive health maintenance in primary care.