Analysis of a clinical case from a Spanish perspective

Abstract

In Spain, psychological treatment is offered in both public and private settings. The public Mental Health Units are part of Community Health Centers, where psychiatric and psychological treatments are offered free of charge. However, most professionals offering psychotherapy work in the private sector. In any Spanish city, a great number of private clinical psychologists offer psychotherapy for a variety of clinical disorders and different ages. The case of Mrs. A illustrates many of the key features of psychotherapy in Spain. She would probably be treated in a Health Center. A family physician would evaluate her mental status and establish a pharmacological treatment. If the patient's condition did not improve, the physician would refer her to a specialist in mental health, either a psychiatrist (using pharmacological treatments), in most cases, or in a few cases, a clinical psychologist (using mainly cognitive-behavioral treatment).