[The clinical psychologist in health centres. A joint work between primary care and mental health]. / El psicólogo clínico en los centros de salud. Un trabajo conjunto entre atención primaria y salud mental.

From the model of Integral Primary Care and under the principle of continuity of care, the development of channels of communication and integration between the first and second level of care in relation to mental health care is proposed. It presents the pioneering experience established in the Health Service of Lanzarote in which the figure of the clinical psychologist has been moved to the Health Centres to develop a joint community program from the Primary Care. The lines of action have focused on direct work with the patient, as well as with the staff, both individually and as a group. The objective is the sensitisation and standardisation of the treatment for mental disease in Health Centres. This work has been carried out with a positive assessment by patients and staff of the centres, which at the same time has demanded greater accessibility for a full implementation of the joint work model focused on the promotion, prevention, detection, and treatment for health mental.

Cultivating Community Psychology for Future Generations: Symbiosis, Synergy, and Separation.

As we near the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of a community psychology division of the American Psychological Association, there are reasons to be concerned about the sustainability of the field. This commentary proposes a need for deliberate, systematic efforts to cultivate settings that can sustain the field. A framework for outreach to build symbiotic relationships and synergistic collaborations with persons who do not identify as community psychologists is proposed. Simultaneously, a strategy of separation from other disciplines may be needed in some circumstances to conserve settings that sustain the field. Finding a balance in these strategies is necessary to cultivate community psychology for future generations.

Capturing Psychologists' Work in Integrated Care: Measuring and Documenting Administrative Outcomes.

With the expansion of integrated primary care and the increased focus on fiscal sustainability, it is critical for clinical managers of these innovative systems to have practical methods for measuring administrative outcomes. Administrative outcomes will assist leadership in the development of efficient, streamlined clinics to provide services to the primary care population. Additionally, administrative measures can be utilized to provide information to assist in guiding resource utilization and management decisions. Several administrative outcomes are suggested for integrated primary care managers to consider for application, including: clinic utilization measures, integrated care administrative measures, wait time and access metrics, and productivity monitors. Effective utilization of these measures can help office managers and clinic leadership not only to maximize patient care, but also to enhance essential business operations, which increase the long-term sustainability of integrated primary care programs.

Globalization of psychology: Implications for the development of psychology in Ethiopia.

The present article reports on the variation of mental health resources across the globe and considers the merits or otherwise of the process of globalization in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), with a specific emphasis on Ethiopia. Although globalization has gained momentum in recent years, there is a concern that the globalization of Western mental health frameworks is problematic, as these concepts have been developed in a different context and do not accommodate the current diversity in understanding in LMIC countries. The importance of understanding the mental health frameworks of LMIC like Ethiopia, prior to considering if and how aspects of high-income countries (HIC) conceptualizations may be appropriately imported, is therefore reflected upon. Traditional approaches in managing mental health difficulties and possible reasons for the limited engagement with clinical psychology in Ethiopia are considered. Current developments within the fields of mental health and clinical psychology in Ethiopia are discussed, and the need to develop more local research in order to increase understanding and evaluate treatment interventions is recognized. Further consideration and debate by Ethiopian mental health professionals as well as those from HIC are recommended, to promote both reciprocal learning and new local discourses about mental health.

Reflections on the development of psychology in Ethiopia and future directions.

The introduction and development of psychology in Ethiopia has been mainly limited to Addis Ababa University in the capital city, and also to educational and school psychology which was highly influenced by the field of education at this pioneering university. Similarly, mental health services have been principally developed at the Amanuel Mental Hospital in Addis Ababa that has existed since the 1950s. However, the expansion of higher learning institutions on one hand, and the apparent growing prevalence of mental illness on the other, seem to have contributed to the development of both mental health training and services in other regional cities and towns. Although the influence of the education-oriented psychological training of the Addis Ababa University is still present, clinical psychology education and services are now being started in other universities. One of these is the master's programme in clinical psychology opened for the first time in the University of Gondar. This article sheds light on the development of psychology in Ethiopia and addresses some of the issues raised about the factors that have influenced its development such as traditional beliefs, poverty and comparisons between mental health in lower middle-income countries and higher middle-income countries ( Uppal et al., 2014 ). The paper also proposes future directions for the education, research, infrastructure and services of clinical psychology and mental health in Ethiopia.

Current status of psychology and clinical psychology in India - an appraisal.

This paper provides an overview of the social and cultural context for the emergence and development of psychology in India and also more specifically of the development of clinical psychology. It details the range of universities offering psychology programmes and the various bodies involved in supporting the development of the psychology. The paper also describes the development of clinical psychology in India and the variety of roles undertaken by clinical psychologists. Finally, it raises a number of issues facing the development of Indian psychology into the future.

Psychology in academic health centers: a true healthcare home.

This article is based on the invited presentation by the author at the American Psychological Association's Annual Convention, August 4-7, 2011, upon his receipt of the Joseph D. Matarazzo Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology in Academic Health Centers presented by the Association of Psychologists in Academic Health Centers. This article relates the history, roles, and responsibilities of psychologists in academic health centers to the ultimate survival and success of professional psychology. It describes implications of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on the institutional practice of psychology including how psychology's place in academic health centers positions the field well for the future of healthcare reform. The article provides several recommendations to help professional psychology prepare for that future of integrated, interprofessional healthcare.

Prescribing psychologists in integrated primary care: introduction to the special section.

The authority to prescribe could differentiate psychologists from other non-physicians in primary care, achieving a significant step for the growth of our profession. Psychologists are currently prescribing in primary care settings in a number of public service venues, as well as medical school training facilities. In this Special Section of the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings, results of a survey of physicians working with a prescribing psychologist indicate that the psychologist is highly valued and seen as a competent prescriber. A series of papers providing case examples demonstrate how psychologists are evolving in these new clinical roles, as well as participating in behavioral and psychopharmacology training of primary care physicians.

Prescribing in integrated primary care: a path forward.

McGrath and Sammons (2011) have suggested prescriptive authority and involvement in integrated primary care represent complementary paths for the future of psychology. The articles in this special section of the Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings describing models of psychologists prescribing in primary care demonstrate that convergence of paths has already begun. This commentary on the papers in this special section addresses a variety of issues raised in the preceding articles, including the benefits of combined prescribing and primary care practice for psychologists and patients, the challenges likely to be faced by psychologists in integrated primary care if we do not also pursue prescriptive authority, obstacles associated with breaking out of our traditional mold, the importance of training specifically for working in primary care settings, and billing obstacles. Several topics are also raised that will need to be addressed by future studies of prescribing psychologists in primary care.

Integrated behavioral care training in family practice residency: opportunities and challenges.

The value of integrated behavioral care has been noted for many years, but there are few descriptions of integrated training of primary care physicians, prescribing psychologists, and psychological/behavioral specialists. The authors describe a family practice residency program that trains family medicine physicians, prescribing psychology practicum students, and pre-doctoral and post-doctoral behavioral health consultants. Barriers to training in integrated care are described and solutions offered. The unique clinical and teaching roles of licensed prescribing psychologists in primary care are described.

Primary care medical provider attitudes regarding mental health and behavioral medicine in integrated and non-integrated primary care practice settings.

Primary care medical providers (PCPs) have become de facto providers of services for the management of both mental and chronic illnesses. Although some reports suggest that PCPs favor having Behavioral Health colleagues provide behavioral health services in primary care, others demonstrate this view is necessarily not universal. We examined attitudes regarding behavioral health services among PCPs in practices that offer such services via onsite behavioral health providers (n = 31) and those that do not (n = 62). We compared referral rates and perceived need for and helpfulness of behavioral health colleagues in treating mental health/behavioral medicine issues. In both samples, perceived need was variable (5-100%), as were PCPs' views of their own competence in mental health/behavioral medicine diagnosis and treatment. Interestingly, neither sample rated perceived access to behavioral health providers exceptionally high. Referral rates and views about the helpfulness of behavioral health services, except in relation to depression and anxiety, were lower than expected. These results suggest a need for increased collaboration with and education of PCPs about the roles and skills of behavioral health professionals.

The prescribing clinical health psychologist: a hybrid skill set in the new era of integrated healthcare.

The prescribing clinical health psychologist brings together in one individual a combination of skills to create a hybrid profession that can add value to any healthcare organization. This article addresses the high demand for mental health services and the inequitable distribution of mental health practitioners across the nation. The close link between physical and mental health and evidence that individuals in psychological distress often enter the mental health system via primary care medical clinics is offered as background to a discussion of the author's work as a commissioned officer of the U.S. Public Health Service assigned to the Chaparral Medical Center of La Clinica de Familia, Inc. near the U.S.-Mexico border. The prescribing clinical health psychologist in primary care medical settings is described as a valuable asset to the future of professional psychology.

Civilian primary care prescribing psychologist in an army medical center.

The present article discusses the integration of a civilian prescribing psychologist into a primary care clinic at Madigan Army Medical Center. A description of the role of the prescribing psychologist in this setting is provided. The author asserts that integrating prescribing psychology into primary care can improve patient access to skilled behavioral health services including psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacologic treatment. Potential benefits to the primary care providers (PCPs) working in primary care clinics are discussed. The importance of collaboration between the prescribing psychologist and PCP is emphasized. Initial feedback indicates that integration of a prescribing psychologist into primary care has been well received in this setting.

Primary care prescribing psychologists in the Indian Health Service.

Some of the largest health care disparities are those related to services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), who show significantly greater prevalence for diabetes, coronary heart disease, smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol use, depression, and PTSD than the general population. Given the recognition of the behavioral components of all of these conditions, the Indian Health Service, the federal agency responsible for providing comprehensive health care services to AI/ANs, has been focusing on increasing the integration of behavior health and primary care. One innovation has been to hire prescribing psychologists on primary care teams. This paper describes the role of a prescribing psychologist on three treatment teams at an IHS facility in Montana. Prescribing psychologists in the Indian Health Service can serve as valuable members of comprehensive care teams, providing exceptional wrap-around care for some of our most vulnerable and underserved citizens. This model could be an example of how a prescribing psychologist could contribute to primary care clinics in a variety of other settings.

The primary care prescribing psychologist model: medical provider ratings of the safety, impact and utility of prescribing psychology in a primary care setting.

Family medicine providers at a large family medicine clinic were surveyed regarding their impression of the impact, utility and safety of the Primary Care Prescribing Psychologist (PCPP) model in which a prescribing psychologist is embedded in a primary care clinic. This article describes the model and provides indications of its strengths and weaknesses as reported by medical providers who have utilized the model for the past 2 years. A brief history of prescribing psychology and the challenges surrounding granting psychologists the authority to prescribe psychotropic medication is summarized. Results indicate family medicine providers agree that having a prescribing psychologist embedded in the family medicine clinic is helpful to their practice, safe for patients, convenient for providers and for patients, and improves patient care. Potential benefits of integrating prescribing psychology into primary care are considered and directions for future research are discussed.

The structure of mental health research: networks of influence among psychiatry and clinical psychology journals.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatry and clinical psychology are the two dominant disciplines in mental health research, but the structure of scientific influence and information flow within and between them has never been mapped. METHOD: Citations among 96 of the highest impact psychiatry and clinical psychology journals were examined, based on 10 052 articles published in 2008. Network analysis explored patterns of influence between journal clusters. RESULTS: Psychiatry journals tended to have greater influence than clinical psychology journals, and their influence was asymmetrical: clinical psychology journals cited psychiatry journals at a much higher rate than the reverse. Eight journal clusters were found, most dominated by a single discipline. Their citation network revealed an influential central cluster of 'core psychiatry' journals that had close affinities with a 'psychopharmacology' cluster. A group of 'core clinical psychology' journals was linked to a 'behavior therapy' cluster but both were subordinate to psychiatry journals. Clinical psychology journals were less integrated than psychiatry journals, and 'health psychology/behavioral medicine' and 'neuropsychology' clusters were relatively peripheral to the network. CONCLUSIONS: Scientific publication in the mental health field is largely organized along disciplinary lines, and is to some degree hierarchical, with clinical psychology journals tending to be structurally subordinate to psychiatry journals.

Psycho-oncology: structure and profiles of European centers treating patients with gynecological cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Psycho-oncological counseling should be an integrated part of modern cancer therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the structures and interests of psycho-oncology services within European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO) centers. METHODS: In 2010, a survey, which consisted of 15 questions regarding organization of psycho-oncological services and interests in training and research, was sent to all ESGO-accredited centers (n = 41). RESULTS: The response rate was 65.8% (27 centers). 96.3% (n = 26) of the surveys came from universities, and 3.7% (n = 1) came from nonacademic institutions. Most of the institutions (92.6%, n = 25) offer psycho-oncological care, mainly by psychologists (64%, n = 16) or psycho-oncologists (48%, n = 12). Fifty-two percent of patients are evaluated for sexual dysfunction as sequelae of their disease or treatment-related adverse effects. Fifty-two percent (n = 14) of institutions offer psychological support for cancer care providers. Eighty-five percent (n = 23) of all centers are interested in psycho-oncological training, and the preferred teaching tools are educational workshops (87%). The main issues of interest are sexual problems in patients with cancer, communication and interpersonal skills, responses of patients and their families, anxiety and adjustment disorders, and palliative care. Eighty-five percent (n = 17) of the 20 institutions look for research in the field of psycho-oncology, and 55% (n = 11) of those are already involved in some kind of research. CONCLUSIONS: Although psycho-oncological care is provided in most of the consulted ESGO accredited centers, almost 50% of women lack information about sexual problems. The results of the survey show the need for and interest in psycho-oncology training and research, including sexual dysfunction. Furthermore, psychological support should be offered to all cancer care providers.

Prescriptive authority for psychologists.

The proposal that psychologists should pursue prescriptive authority was first put forth 25 years ago, and it has been an official goal of the American Psychological Association for 15 years. Since then some form of prescriptive authority has been approved by three states, the Territory of Guam, and three branches of the military. Psychologists are also eligible to prescribe in the Public Health Service and the Indian Health Service. The movement has generated strong opinions both in favor and in opposition. Supporters focus particularly on increasing access to appropriate care and changing the role of psychologists within the healthcare system, while opponents raise concerns about how prescriptive authority will change professional psychology and whether psychologists will prescribe safely. This review provides a summary of milestones in the movement to date, as well as the arguments that have been raised for and against prescriptive authority.