title: Tackling the global mental health challenge: a psychosomatic medicine/consultation-liaison psychiatry perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry, informed by principles of psychosomatic medicine, is well-positioned to address the global impact of mental disorders through primary care C-L models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The authors review the international burden of mental disorders, highlighting medical comorbidity, undertreatment, and the rationale for enhancing primary-care management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C-L psychiatry fosters the skills required for global mental health work. The authors describe successful C-L models developed in a low-income country (Ethiopia) and an under-resourced region of a high-income country (Australia).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C-L psychiatrists have the potential to marshal their unique skill-set to reduce the global burden of mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, 1493 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA. abauer@challiance.org
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fielke
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brayley
authors.forename: Mesfin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Araya
authors.forename: Atalay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alem
authors.forename: Bernard L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Frankel
authors.forename: Gregory L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Fricchione
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005002:Ethiopia; D005544:Forecasting; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D011611:Psychosomatic Medicine / Q000639:trends*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000639:trends; D013021:South Australia