Despite advances in the neurosciences which suggest that the “mind-body split” is illusory, there is a great deal more that needs to be done to create an effective “interface’ between mental health and physical medicine. The lack of an effective interface is reflected both in the problems that persons with serious and persistent mental illnesses face in accessing medical care and in the difficulties that medical patients face in having their behavioral and physical medicine issues addressed in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
The mental health medical divide is manifest at a number of levels:
The experience of individuals
Patient-physician and physician-physician interactions
The organization of the personal health care systems and the public health care systems at the local, state, and federal level
Policy, funding, regulatory, insurance, and other systems
This presentation will define this issue in the context of the public health paradigm and a biopsychosocial model of care and discuss steps that could be taken to address these issues, as reflected in policy and practice, research and education.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this talk, audience members should: -identify obstacles to integrated mental and physical healthcare -recognize steps that could be taken to overcome these obstacles
Keywords: Mental Health Services, Access to Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Abstract withdrawn 9/26/01 per John Kastan's request.
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.