A survey of professional opinion: general practitioners liaison with clinical psychologists and other health professionals

Abstract

The results of interviews carried out with a small group of GPs living in the Wellington area are presented. The doctors were asked about their perceptions of clinical psychologists and other health professionals. They were asked about the type of psychological problems they referred to other agencies and specifically the assessment and treatment services they generally requested from clinical psychologists. Their knowledge and use of various specialist agencies during the past year was also assessed. Just under half of the GPs reported that it was difficult for them to detect presented psychological problems, and almost all did not believe that their initial medical training had adequately equipped them to deal with these problems. Despite this, a third were not in favour of having clinical psychologists working directly in their practices. But they were equally divided about working in closer relationship with clinical psychologists at the primary health care level, and they detailed existing and anticipated problems concerning a closer liaison. Comparisons were drawn with a similar British study conducted two years ago and implications for the training and practice of clinical psychologists were noted.