Psychopharmacology for the Mentally Ill (From Locked Up: Body, Mind and Soul: American Correctional Health Services Association 1994 Multidisciplinary Training Conference, P 87-90, 1994 - See NCJ-148921)

• NCJ Number: 148924
• Author(s): K M Tait
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 4 pages
• Sale Source: American Correctional Health Services Assoc
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Primary care physicians who work in correctional settings need to use their skills fully to meet the mental health needs of inmates, due to limitations in the availability of mental health resources.

Abstract

Despite the importance of medications in modern mental health treatment, the therapeutic potential of the clinician-patient interaction itself may prove to be the single most effective tool available to the primary health care provider. Regardless of variations in training and clinical strengths, primary care providers have opportunities for roles in mental health treatment in four areas. These are the evaluation and treatment of psychiatric illness; interim medication review and refills for stable patients, in cooperation with the prescribing psychiatrist; the use of appropriate pharmacologic interventions in the treatment of conditions commonly associated with mental health symptoms (cocaine withdrawal, chronic pain); and the prevention of avoidable decompensation through the use of nonpharmacologic interventions. In additional areas such as sleep disturbance and situational anxiety, the use of pharmacological treatments remain controversial. 3 references (Author abstract modified)