Literature Collection

OBJECTIVE: The American Psychiatric Association (APA) issued a 2023 report on the future of psychiatry, focusing on how the organization should position itself in relation to coming developments over the next 10 years. Here, we follow up with a discussion of how the psychiatrist's role needs to evolve to adapt to the changes ahead. METHODS: We drew on senior experts and junior trainees within the APA's Council on Healthcare Systems and Financing, along with additional content experts, to choose areas of focus and discuss their interrelationships. Literature review focused on publications with implications of these areas for future training and practice. RESULTS: We are only ∼5% of the mental health work force, and we have unique strengths, including training providing us the ability to discern the varied factors contributing to distress, and direct and apply interventions across all available modalities. Psychiatrists make best use of our capabilities when we lead the process of comprehensively formulating patients' problems and generating a multi-faceted treatment approach. We have chosen six areas where we envision new developments impacting how psychiatrists will practice and residents should train: digital data and precision medicine, measurement-based care, artificial intelligence (AI), psychotherapy, integrated care, and care for the seriously mentally ill. We provide suggestions regarding next steps that will allow us to make the best use of our training and expand access to high quality diagnosis and care. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: We will need to handle the most challenging cases: the most psychiatrically complex, medically complex, and treatment-resistant. We must preserve our skill, unique among physicians, in psychotherapeutic approaches, even as we manage psychiatric illness. We must also adapt and become more tech-savvy, as digital data, mobile and computer-based treatments, electronic medical records, and AI algorithms take on increasing prominence in our field.

OBJECTIVES: Integrating behavioral health services into primary care is an important global initiative to improve access to mental health services. Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Teams (GeriPACTs) are one model of integrated care for frail older adults to serve older Veterans with geriatric syndromes and increased probability of cognitive impairment. Understanding of the role of psychology in GeriPACT is limited. This study examines this role, describes the practice of these psychologists, and evaluates the integration of psychology into geriatric primary care. METHODS: A mixed-methods design was used. Recruitment occurred through two VHA listservs for GeriPACT and Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) psychologists. Surveys examined referral processes, service access, clinical services provision, and use of psychotherapy modalities. Twenty psychologists participated. Structured follow-up interviews were conducted with five participants. RESULTS: A large minority of psychologists did not have FTE allotted for GeriPACT work they provided (40%). Sixty percent were assigned to one GeriPACT team. Twenty percent served four to seven GeriPACT teams. Eighty percent provided same-day services. Cognitive assessment was provided weekly by over sixty percent of providers who had FTE allotment to this role. Qualitative data provided a rich description of psychologists' perceptions of their role, team functioning, referral processes, visit structure, and other factors. CONCLUSION: Findings are discussed in the context of the World Health Organization's guidelines for integrating mental health into primary care. Data suggest a need for an integrated model that adapts to the special needs of older adults in primary care.

Objectives: Integrating behavioral health services into primary care is an important global initiative to improve access to mental health services. Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Teams (GeriPACTs) are one model of integrated care for frail older adults to serve older Veterans with geriatric syndromes and increased probability of cognitive impairment. Understanding of the role of psychology in GeriPACT is limited. This study examines this role, describes the practice of these psychologists, and evaluates the integration of psychology into geriatric primary care.Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. Recruitment occurred through two VHA listservs for GeriPACT and Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) psychologists. Surveys examined referral processes, service access, clinical services provision, and use of psychotherapy modalities. Twenty psychologists participated. Structured follow-up interviews were conducted with five participants.Results: A large minority of psychologists did not have FTE allotted for GeriPACT work they provided (40%). Sixty percent were assigned to one GeriPACT team. Twenty percent served four to seven GeriPACT teams. Eighty percent provided same-day services. Cognitive assessment was provided weekly by over sixty percent of providers who had FTE allotment to this role. Qualitative data provided a rich description of psychologists' perceptions of their role, team functioning, referral processes, visit structure, and other factors.Conclusion: Findings are discussed in the context of the World Health Organization's guidelines for integrating mental health into primary care. Data suggest a need for an integrated model that adapts to the special needs of older adults in primary care.