A biopsychosocial approach to treating patients with affective disorders

Am J Psychiatry. 1987 Mar;144(3):341-4. doi: 10.1176/ajp.144.3.341.

Abstract

The authors describe the development of an affective disorders consultation service that implemented a biopsychosocial model of subspecialty consultation within a university-affiliated community mental health center. They retrospectively analyzed the first 2 years of consultations, assessing the process of consultation and examining patterns of consultee inquiries and consultation recommendations. Consultants recommended combined psychopharmacologic and psychodynamic therapies for most patients and found psychodynamic psychotherapy strikingly overlooked by consultees, all of whom were psychiatrists or other mental health professionals. This evaluation documents the psychiatric consultees' deemphasis of the biopsychosocial perspective in clinical practice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Bipolar Disorder / diagnosis
  • Bipolar Disorder / drug therapy
  • Bipolar Disorder / therapy*
  • Community Mental Health Centers*
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / therapy*
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / drug therapy
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Psychiatry
  • Psychotherapy / methods
  • Referral and Consultation*

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antipsychotic Agents