A study of the relationship between general medical practitioners and counsellors & psychotherapists in the treatment of depression and anxiety. A study of a sample of general medical practitioners and counsellors & psychotherapists in Wicklow, Wexford, Galway and Clare, in regard to multidisciplinary co-operation and referals in relation to the treatment of depression and anxiety

Abstract

The object of this research project was to discover general attitudes that GPs had towards the Counselling & Psychotherapeutic profession. It also set out to discover how the GPs saw Psychological Therapy as beneficial in practical terms by the frequency they refer to or would prefer to refer to these services. It also aimed to discover general attitudes Therapists held towards GPs. To this end two questionnaires were devised and sent out to 100 GPs and 40 Counsellors & Psychotherapists in Wexford, Wicklow, Galway and Clare. The study found that 4.7% of GPs list referral to a counsellor as a preferred treatment for the various diagnoses of Depression. 11.6% of GPs consider Psychotherapy as a valid treatment option for the various level of Depression. 27% considered the option of treating with a combination of Psychotherapy and medication. It also found that there did not seem to be enough knowledge among GPs about the qualifications and accreditations of various psychological service providers to make and informed and confident decision to refer to these services. The study concluded that more education was needed to be provided to the GPs in regard to the service provision, qualifications and accreditation processes of the various psychological therapy providers.