Clinical Psychology in Primary Care — Issues in the Evaluation of Services

Abstract

As Burns already suggested in the previous chapter, it has become fashionable for clinical psychologists to work in primary care settings, and although there are only a handful of clinical psychologists working exclusively in primary care, most area psychology departments have members who work in health centres on a sessional basis. Though Hood (1979) and McPherson (1980) have both recently suggested that the traditional individual treatment model is inappropriate for the psychologists working in primary care, it is not yet clear what the best role for the psychologist should be in these settings. However in this discussion we will not enter into the debate regarding roles, but will rather review the comparatively recent literature on the work of clinical psychologists in primary care. We will also present some preliminary data on the Forth Valley Health Board Stirling Health District Community Clinical Psychology Project.