Let's train psychiatric residents to use their medical skills to meet twenty-first century demands.
The health care system is moving toward the integration of medical and psychiatric services since through this mechanism more efficient care can be provided to the many high-cost and complicated patients with psychiatric comorbidity in the primary care setting. In order for psychiatry to respond to the demands resulting from these projected changes, adjustments in psychiatric residency curricula will be required. This article suggests curricular revisions that increase training in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment in outpatient and acute care medical settings, emphasize development of psychiatric skills appropriate to individuals with a medical background, and improve the ability of psychiatrists to coordinate mental health care in primary care settings.
Kathol
R G
RG
Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City 52242, USA. rkathol@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu
Kick
S D
SD
Morrison
M F
MF
D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D011361:Professional Competence; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education* / Q000639:trends*