Bringing Psychotherapy to Primary Care: Innovations and Challenges

The segregation of mental health treatment and primary medical care in our health care system is increasingly recognized as anachronistic, as a majority of patients with psychosocial problems are turning to primary care providers. Accordingly, the development and dissemination of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions compatible with the constraints of primary care is becoming increasingly urgent. This article discusses the importance of finding feasible ways to bring psychotherapy to primary care, examines interventions either specifically adapted for primary care or consistent with its constraints, assesses the compatibility of these interventions with the primary care environment, considers barriers inhibiting the widespread integration of such interventions into primary care, and discusses future directions.