MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE IN PSYCHIATRY: HISTORY, CHALLENGE AND ANALYSIS FOR IMPROVEMENT

Abstract

Psychiatric illnesses take place in the context of socioeconomic circumstances. A growing body of evidences support that a multidisciplinary care system that includes not only medical management but also social and psychological care significantly improves short-term and long-term outcomes of diseases. However, at the current stage, multidisciplinary teams often function without an exact manual and would rely on traditions and previous customs that vary among centers, which can make individual professionals involved in the care to feel uncertain and ambiguous in terms of his or her roles. This can pose a serious a risk of professional frustration and sense of disempowerment, which can negatively impact team dynamic and quality of patient care. This article attempts to articulate possible challenges that can be faced by multidisciplinary team, and how such challenges can be addressed and handled. To achieve this, first, elements of multidisciplinary care model will be identified, and roles of each professional member will be delineated. Then, challenges that can be faced by a multidisciplinary team will be addressed, using a historical example of National Institute of Mental Health (1946) and a personal account from a British social worker. Then, possible solutions for the current problems will be discussed, which include implementing effective communication systems and adapting a multidisciplinary care plan to address the special needs of different age groups. In closing, I will emphasize that multidisciplinary care is both a medical and ethical imperative; not only sociobehavioral interventions will improve patient adherence, prevent relapse, and maximize the effect of the care, but also the model will facilitate patient’s recovery of agency, the ability to discern right from wrong, and autonomy, the right to make the decision that is most consistent with their beliefs and value systems.