Brief Encounter

Abstract

Through this column, we hope that practitioners in general medical settings will gain a more complete knowledge of the many patients who are likely to benefit from brief psychotherapeutic interventions. A close working relationship between primary care and psychiatry can serve to enhance patient outcome.

In for the Long Haul

“…1 I saw about 1200 of his outpatients, while making clinic rounds with him 1 morning a week for 3 years. 2 This experience led to the design of a research study of the value of brief (6-session) cognitive therapy to aid in adjustment to cancer. 3 One of my earliest study subjects asked to have our sessions continue, once monthly, "for life."…”

Unconventional Psychotherapy

“…We met at the university at which Robert was an oncology patient and I was making rounds 1 morning a week with my oncologist colleague. 1,2 I spoke with Robert briefly after the oncologist and nurse had left the room. He seemed like a good candidate for a research study I was conducting that offered a cancer patient 6 sessions of cognitive therapy to aid adjustment to the disease.…”