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RCP: Launch of new report: 'Psychological Therapies in Psychiatry and Primary Care'

Psychological Therapies in Psychiatry and Primary Care is the title of a new report from the Royal College of Psychiatrists in partnership with the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Its aim is to improve provision of psychological therapies to people suffering from mental and physical disorders in both primary and secondary care settings.

The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recognised the contribution that psychotherapeutic treatments can make to the care of people with a wide range of debilitating mental and physical illnesses.

Not only can these treatments reduce symptoms, just as medication can, but they can also produce other outcomes – from helping a person to cope with an adverse change in circumstances, to enabling people to make lasting changes in their personality.

There are, however, problems with the delivery of psychological therapies, which include cost in relation to the resources available, lack of suitably trained staff and the absence of statutory regulation.

The report makes a number of key recommendations relating to meeting future needs, making services co-ordinated and safe, and commissioning services. It should be useful to psychiatrists, GPs, employers and commissioners of services.



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