title: Cognitive behavioral therapy for treatment of primary care patients presenting with psychological disorders.
abstract: Mental disorders affect a great number of people worldwide. Four out of the 10 leading causes of disability in the world are mental disorders. Because of the scarcity of specialists around the world and especially in developing countries, it is important for primary care physicians to provide services to patients with mental disorders. The most widely researched and used psychological approach in primary care is cognitive behavioral therapy. Due to its brief nature and the practical skills it teaches, it is convenient for use in primary care settings. The following paper reviews the literature on psychotherapy in primary care and provides some practical tips for primary care physicians to use when they are faced with patients having mental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; bk03@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Joumana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ammar
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D018912:Arabs; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D058006:General Practice / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008877:Middle East; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation
keywords: cognitive behavioral therapy; mental illness; primary care; psychological disorders; psychotherapy