Partnerships in mental health : effective referral and collaboration between family physicians and psychologists

Abstract

This study looked at physicians' perceptions of the existing process of referral and collaboration between themselves and psychologists. Specifically, this study sought to identify the barriers to referral and collaboration in an effort to improve referral and collaboration between these two fields. A total of nine family physicians were interviewed. Overall, the barriers that were identified by physicians included a lack of feedback provided by psychologists, a low level of collaboration with psychologists, physicians' perception of the financial inaccessibility of psychological care, the lack of information that physicians have on psychologists, and physicians not knowing the resources that were available. Addressing these barriers appears to involve some combination of improving psychologists' feedback and collaboration with physicians, providing physicians with information and education on psychologists and their services, and improving the financial accessibility for patients to receive psychological services.