SHOULD THE MEDICAL STUDENT BE TRAINED TO REFER OR TO HANDLE HIS OWN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS?
Abstract
C. H.TO PATIENTSBRANCH, tient and psychiatric M.D.2?The popularity of the concept of community-centered psychiatry and the imminence of the development of the community mental health centers bring into prominence the responsibility which thephysician chiatric must patients. assume for Usually the this care of psyproblem issufficient therapiesknowledge and localof major psychiatricto beto explainto thepa-tient and his family approximately what will be his situation and the treatment possibilities for him. 3. Automatic utilization of psychiatricprimarily related to the general practitioner, since it is assumed that the specialist will stay in his own yard, largely oblivious to community needs. In the standard sentimental medical tradition only the general practitioner stands ready to meet every need. In reality, however, all physicians-specialists as well as generalists-have the role of âfamily doctorâ to some patients and it might be useful to label this relationship that of âprimary physicianâ since it depends upon the setting and the experiencesshared by the patient and his physicianing, diagnosis ing considerationin all history-taking,and treatment, of emotionalinterviewthus achievfactors fromin everyresortâmatter.it in as a âlast4. Sufficient knowledge of peutic principles and techniques adequately a reasonable rangepsychotherato handle of psychiat-ric problems. 5. A completely pragmatic approach to psychodynamics as they relate to