Integrated behavioural health care is a health-care service delivery system in which behavioural health care is co-ordinated with primary medical care. This book discusses the economic, clinical, administrative, and procedural issues involved in designing, implementing, and maintaining a successful integrated care delivery system.
Integrated behavioral health care is a health-care service delivery system in which behavioral health care is coordinated with primary medical care. Unlike older approaches to patient care in which mental health professionals worked separately from medical professionals, integrated care recognizes that many patients present to medical professionals with behavioral problems. For example, diabetics or persons suffering from chronic pain may experience depression. Thus patients often need some combination of both behavioral and medical treatment. Integrated care attempts to overcome the traditional division of care so that a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach is taken to provide more appropriate care for patients.
In this comprehensive, step-by-step guide, a team of national experts in integrated behavioral health care discusses the economic, clinical, administrative, and procedural issues involved in designing, implementing, and maintaining a successful integrated care delivery system.
Among the specific topics discussed are psychopharmacology; the Biodyne model (focused, intermittent psychotherapy throughout the life cycle); guidelines for the treatment of major depression, panic disorder, substance abuse, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; disease management groups; treatment adherence; patient access to behavioral health care through the primary care provider; and treating special problems related to the elderly and women's health care.
This clearly written, well-organized, and thoroughly researched guidebook will be of great interest to researchers and practitioners in psychology, medicine, nursing, social work, psychiatry, and education.
"[T]he most important new publication in the health-care field. It offers practical answers to common questions and real solutions to acknowledged problems with the US quality chasm. It should be read thoroughly and thoughtfully by all who are now responsible for the overdue integration of patients’ medical and behavioral health-care service needs."
—Alex R. Rodriguez, MD
Yale University School of Medicine
Author of Quality Assurance in Mental Health
"[A] readable state-of-the-art book that will enable mental health clinicians to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities in the general health-care arena. Integrated Behavioral Health Care addresses the major problems in the US health-care system today in regard to cost, quality, and access. It truly is where health care is going in the future. This book is a must-read guide for that future."
—Ronald F. Levant, Ed.D., ABPP
Professor of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University
