The authors of Recognition and Treatment of Psychiatric
Disorders note correctly that primary care has become a de facto
mental health system. The use of the term "system" is somewhat
autistic when we recognize that the so-called system does not
work for the mental disorders and may not work that well for
much else. The authors attempt through this volume to assist
primary care physicians in their task of rendering mental health
services. It is not clear that any book, no matter how well
written, can address the problem. Primary care physicians do not
receive adequate training in the recognition and management of
psychiatric disorders. This deficiency is compounded by the
expectations that the primary care physician must see six or
more patients per hour. It would be difficult under these
conditions to recognize auditory hallucinations, let alone more
subtle manifestations of mental disorder. Self-administered
screening tools have been used, but they have not proven to be
of great assistance.