Psychiatry and primary medicine.

Psychiatry and primary medicine are related to one another for theoretical and practical reasons. The development of this relationship in Israel in recent years is described. Many patients with mental problems are seen by the primary physician only. The most serious cases are usually detected and referred. The main problem is that people with modest mental disturbances are often neither detected nor referred and treated. The development of various forms of communication between psychiatry and primary medicine, such as consultation-liaison programs, Balint groups and other methods of training, are described and discussed.