The use of video-tape techniques in the psychiatric training of family physicians

This paper describes the use of video-tape techniques in the training of family physicians. Some general objectives for the psychiatric curriculum for family medicine training programs are enumerated. The implementation of these goals include (1) development of a library of video recordings which contain illustrative examples of psychiatric syndromes and management problems that appear frequently in family practices; and (2) use of video-tape recordings of the trainee during routine medical encounters and during counseling sessions for later review with supervising faculty. Some specific examples are cited of what to look for in the medical encounters and of how the video tape allows faculty to be more concrete in their instruction.