PSYCHOTHERAPY IN PRIMARY-CARE - THE BATHE TECHNIQUE

The family physician occupies a front-line position in the detection a nd treatment of emotional problems and psychiatric illnesses. The prac tice pattern of the family physician necessitates an efficient, effect ive model of psychotherapy. The BATHE technique is a brief psychothera peutic method that addresses the patient's background issues, affect a nd most troubling problem. The emphasis of the interview then shifts t o how the patient is handling the problem and a demonstration of empat hy by the physician. Some of the challenges in psychotherapy are prese nted, and cases in which the BATHE technique was used are described.