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Communication between doctors and psychologists *
Author(s) -
Hetherington Ralph
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of medical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 0007-1129
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1983.tb01536.x
Subject(s) - psychology , affect (linguistics) , independence (probability theory) , social psychology , psychotherapist , applied psychology , mathematics , communication , statistics
Changing roles of the psychologist over the past 30 years or so have been rapid and fundamental. This has led to difficulties when psychologist and doctor do not see the former's role in the same way. Psychologists achieve clinical independence for their work rather sooner than doctors do, and if this is not understood there can be difficulties in communication. If the doctor and psychologist employ different theoretical models of illness, this may affect the ease with which agreed therapeutic strategies are reached. The respective roles played by the doctor and the psychologist may be consonant, in that both are research, or both are clinically, oriented. When this is not the case, difficulties may occur. It is suggested that job descriptions should be agreed before appointments are made. Unresolved tensions concerning clinical responsibility may cause communication difficulties. It is suggested that the claims of functional leadership over status leadership be examined.