Article archive / July 1, 2012
Originally published: . Volume 3, No. 11. Source pages: 12.
Dr. Michele Larzelere, of the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Department of Family Medicine, explained the evolving role of the primary care psychologist to participants at a Feb- ruary 2012, online conference for LPA.
Dr. Larzelere pointed to terms used across the country for this role, and some level of confusion that accompanies in this changing perspective. Names to describe this role include “integrated primary care,” “behavioral medicine,” “mental health integration,” “medical psychology,” and “collaborative primary care.”
She explained that the typical job duties of the primary care psychologist would often include interventions for mental health conditions but also behavioral medicine. A primary care psychologist would also often teach brief interventions to primary care staff as well as be an advocate for prevention and wellness in both mental and physical areas. When used effectively, the psychologist will help with “high-utilizing” patients, work with those patients with chronic illnesses, identify those requiring more specialized mental health services, and screen for medical services such as surgical or pain medicine use.
She also spoke to the group about the psychologist need to draw on organizational skills in team-building, communication methods, psychosocial education for staff and physicians, and keeping colleagues focused on evidence-base, among others.
In a review of the important reasons to integrate psychologists into primary care, Dr. Larzelere pointed to research that 60 percent of medical visits “have a strong psychological or psychosocial component,” “that behavioral and mental health impact physical health and vice versa,” and that “people are dying of behaviorally influenced diseases.” She said the research suggests that a “… 30 to 60 percent decrease in medical utilization can be achieved with integrated behavioral health,” and also this “one-stop shopping for patients prevents the 50 to 90 percent drop-off at point of referral…”
She said that if the mental health/behavioral health component in medical/surgical costs were successfully treated nationwide, the amount saved would exceed the entire current budget for mental health.
Dr. Michele Larzelere is a licensed clinical psychologist who along with her duties is Assistant Professor at the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychiatry at the LSU School of Medicine.
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