The general psychologist. A case study on the image of the psychologist’s role and integrated primary care service expressed by paediatricians and general practitioners

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Claudia Venuleo, Claudia Guacci
Publishing Year 2014 Issue 2014/1 Language Italian
Pages 25 P. 73-97 File size 1057 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2014-001004
DOI is like a bar code for intellectual property: to have more infomation click here

Below, you can see the article first page

If you want to buy this article in PDF format, you can do it, following the instructions to buy download credits

Article preview

FrancoAngeli is member of Publishers International Linking Association, Inc (PILA), a not-for-profit association which run the CrossRef service enabling links to and from online scholarly content.

This paper presents a study aimed at analysing the professional and service models by which paediatricians and general practitioners represent the collaboration with the psychologist within a primary care service. The research is grounded on a psychodynamic-cultural approach which acknowledges the main role of the socio-symbolic process in the way of interpreting one’s own function within a health service and the professional collaboration. A semi-structured interview was administered to 13 general practitioners and 17 paediatricians. Multidimensional analysis was applied to the transcripts: a Lexical Correspondence Analysis aimed at detecting the main dimensions of symbolization which characterize the discursive productions and a Cluster Analysis aimed at identifying the main thematic nucleus. Results allows to highlight the physicians and paediatrics commitment on an integrated primary care service and to identify what professional and service models grounds the demand of collaboration with the psychologist. Whereas the function ascribed to the service is identified with the medical one (to care the illness), psychologist is called to "contain" psychic dimensions which disturb the expected medical procedures. Whereas the function ascribed to the service is that of taking care of the user’s biopsychic- social unity, psychologist is recognized as a practitioner to whom putting in the hands the emotional component. Constraints and resources for the development of a psychological function within the integrated primary care service, as emerging by the results, are discussed.

Keywords: Psychological function, medical function, integrated service, service’s models, symbolic dimensions, thematic nucleus

  1. Benson J., Kraemer H.C. and Spiegel D. (2000). Change in emotion-regulation strategy for women with metastatic breast cancer following supportive-expressive group therapy. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 7 (4): 916-925. DOI: 10.1037//0022-006X.70.4.91
  2. Benzécri J.P. (1973), L’analyse des données [Data Analysis], Vol. 2. Paris: Dunod.
  3. Bertini M. (2011). Verso la fondazione dello psicologo di base [Towards the foundation of the Primary Care Psychologist]. Giornale dell’Ordine Nazionale degli Psicologi, 1: 7-10.
  4. Blount A. (2003). Integrated primary care: Organizing the evidence. Families, Systems and Health, 21: 121-133. DOI: 10.1037/1091-7527.21.2.12
  5. Burniston J., Eftekhari F., Hrabi S., Worsley R. and Dean E. (2012). Health behaviour change and lifestyle-related condition prevalence: Comparison of two epochs based on systematic review of the physical therapy literature. Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal, 30 (2): 44-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.hkpj.2012.07.00
  6. Carli R. and Giovagnoli F. (2011). A cultural approach to clinical Psychology. Psychoanalysis and analysis of the Demand. In: Salvatore S. and Zittoun T., editors, Cultural Psychology and psychoanalysis. Pathways to synthesis (pp. 117-150). Charlotte, Nc: Info Age Pubblishing.
  7. Carli R. e Paniccia R.M. (2003). Analisi della Domanda [Analysis of Demand]. Bologna: Il Mulino.
  8. Carli R., Paniccia R.M. e Salvatore S. (2004). L’immagine dello psicologo in Toscana [The image of Psychologist in Toscana], Psicologia Toscana, 10: 7-100.
  9. Casadei D., Righetti P.L., Maggino T., e Marangon G. (2000). Lo psicologo in Ostetricia e Ginecologia: Progetto Integrato e Multifocale medico-psicologico [The psychologist in Ostetrican: Medical-psychological Integrated and Multifocal Project], Psicologia della Salute, 2: 115-128.
  10. Derksen J. (1986). Clinical psychologists in the primary health care system in the Netherlands. American Psychologist, 41 (3): 313-314. DOI: 10.1037/0003-066X.41.3.31
  11. Derksen J. (2009), Primary care psychologists in the Netherlands: 30 years of experience. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 40 (5): 493-501. DOI: 10.1037/a0015743
  12. Eide H., Graugaard P., Holgersen K. and Finset A. (2003) Physician communication in different phases of a consultation at an oncology outpatient clinic related to patient satisfaction. Patient Education and Counselling, 51: 259-266. DOI: 10.1016/S0738-3991(02)00225-
  13. Esch T. (2002). Health in stress: change in the stress concept and its significance for prevention, health and life style. Gesundheitswesen (Bundesverband der Arzte des Offentlichen Gesundheitsdienstes (Germany), 64 (2): 73-81. DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-2027
  14. Frank R.G., McDaniel S.H., James H. and Heldring M., editors (2004). Primary care psychology. Washington (US): American Psychological Association. DOI: 10.1037/10651-000
  15. Fornari F. (1979). I fondamenti di una teoria psicoanalitica del linguaggio [The Basis of a Psychonalityc Theory of the Language]. Torino: Boringhieri.
  16. Forsythe L.P, Alfano C.M., Leach C.R, Ganz P.A., Stefanek M.E. and Rowland J.H. (2012). Who Provides Psychosocial Follow-Up Care for Post-Treatment Cancer Survivors? A Survey of Medical Oncologists and Primary Care Physician. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23 (30): 287-2905. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2011.39.983
  17. Gatchel R.J. and Oordt M.S. (2003). Clinical health psychology and primary care: Practical advice and clinical guidance for successful collaboration. Washington (US): American Psychological Association. DOI: 10.1037/10592-000
  18. Guerra G. (1992). Psicosociologia dell’ospedale [Psychosociology of the Hospital]. Roma: La Nuova Italia Scientifica.
  19. Harré R. and Gillett G. (1994). The Discursive Mind. London: Sage (trad. it.: La mente discorsiva. Milano: Raffaello Cortina, 1996).
  20. Hosking D.M. and Bowen R. (2000). Organizational learning: Relational–constructionist approaches: An overview. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 9 (2): 129-132. DOI: 10.1080/13594320039789
  21. Kaneklin G. e Scaratti G., a cura di (1998). Formazione e narrazione [Training and narration]. Milano: Raffaello Cortina.
  22. Irving J. B. (1997). Psychosocial rehabilitation for patients recovering from acute myocardial infarction. The Lancet, 350 (9076): 457. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)63074-
  23. Lebart L., Salem A. and Berry L. (1998). Exploring textual data. Dordrecht/Boston/London: Kluwer Academic Publisher.
  24. Linden W. (2000). Psychological treatments in cardiac rehabilitation: review of rationales and outcomes. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 48 (4-5): 317-20. DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3999(99)00094-
  25. Linell P. (2009). Rethinking Language, Mind and World Dialogically: Interactional and Contextual Theories of Sense Making. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.
  26. Lomas J. (1998). Social Capital and Health: Implications for Public Health and Epidemiology. Social Science & Medicine, 47 (9): 1181-1188. DOI: 10.1016/S0277-9536(98)00190-
  27. Matte Blanco I. (1975). The unconscious as Infinite Sets. An Essays in Bi-Logic. London: Gerald Duckworth & Company Ltd (trad. it.: L’inconscio come insiemi infiniti. Torino: Einaudi, 1981).
  28. Manzo S., Salvatore S., Venuleo C., Olive C. e Giausa S. (2008). Analisi dell’immagine dell’Ufficio Relazioni con il Pubblico presso il personale ASL di una città dell’Italia Meridionale [Analysis of Images of the Public Relations Department of the Health Territorial Services of an Italian Southern City]. Psicologia di Comunità, 1 (4): 75-87.
  29. Mossi P., and Salvatore S. (2011). Transición psicológica de significado a sentido. European Journal of Education and Psychology, 4 (2): 153-169.
  30. Norman R. (1991, II ed). Service Management: Strategy and Leadership in Service Business. Baffin Lane, Chirchester: John Wiley & Sons.
  31. Osgood C. E., Suci G. J. and Tannenbaum T. H. (1957). The Measurement of Meaning. Urbana IL: University of Illinois Press.
  32. Pace T.M., Chaney J.M., Mullins L.L. and Olson R.A. (1995). Psychological Consultation with Primary Care Physicians: Obstacles and Opportunities in the Medical Setting. Professional psychology: Research and Practice, (26) 2: 123-131.
  33. Palmisano A. e Solano L. (2005). La collaborazione medico-psicologo: la diagnosi, il dialogo, la cura, percorsi da fare insieme al paziente [The collaboration between practitioners and psychologists: assessment, dialogue, therapy, paths to do with the patient]. Psicologia della Salute, 1: 147-160.
  34. Pottier B. (1974). Linguistique générale, théorie et description [General Linguistic, theory and description]. Paris: Klincksieck.
  35. Robson M.H., France R. and Bland M. (1984). Clinical psychologist in primary care: controlled clinical and economic evaluation. British Medical Journal, 288 (6433): 1805-1808. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.288.6433.180
  36. Salvatore S. (2012). Social Life of the Sign: Sensemaking in Society. In: Valsiner J., editor, The Oxford Handbook of Culture and Psychology. Oxford: Oxford Press, pp. 241-254.
  37. Salvatore S., Tebaldi C., and Potì S. (2010). The discursive dynamic of sensemaking. In: Salvatore S., Valisner J., Strout-Yagodzynski S. and Clegg J., editors, Yearbook of Idiographic Science, vol. 1 (pp. 39-71). Roma: Firera e Liuzzo Group.
  38. Salvatore S. and Venuleo C. (2008). Understanding the role of emotion in sensemaking. A semiotic psychoanalytic oriented perspective. Integrative psychological and behavioral science, 41 (1): 32-46. DOI: 10.1007/s12124-007-9039-
  39. Shearer D.S. (2012). Civilian Primary Care Prescribing Psychologist. An Army Medical Center. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Setting, 4 (19): 430-433. DOI: 10.1007/s10880-012-9342-
  40. Solano L., Pirrotta E., Boschi A., Cappelloni A., D’Angelo D. e Pandolfi M.L. (2010). Medico di famiglia e psicologo insieme nello studio: un nuovo modello gestionale dove il sintomo diventa attivatore di risorse? [Family physician and psychologist working together: a new management model where the symptom]. Italian Journal of Primary Care, 2 (2): 93-100.
  41. Solano L. (2011). Dal sintomo alla persona. Medico e psicologo insieme per l’assistenza di base [From symptom to the person. Physician and psychologist together for primary care]. Milano: FrancoAngeli.
  42. The European Health Report (2009), Health and health systems. Copenhagen: WHO regional Office for Europe. -- http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/82386/E93103.pdf .
  43. Tomassoni M., Iacarella G. e Solano L. (2002). Psicologia della Salute e Medicina di Base: una collaborazione proficua [Health Psychology and Primary Health Care: a succesful collaboration]. Psicologia della Salute, 1: 121-134
  44. Triandis H.C. (1996). The Psychological Measurement of cultural Syndromes. American Psychologist, 4 (51): 407-415. DOI: 10.1037/0003-066x.51.4.40
  45. Valsiner J. (2000). Culture and human development. London: Sage.
  46. Venuleo C. (2013). I modelli di valutazione di un servizio URP espressi dall’utenza di un’Azienda Sanitaria Locale. Un caso studio [The users’ models of evaluating one National Health Service Public-Relations Department. A case study]. Psicologia della Salute, 2: 29-49. DOI: 10.3280/PDS2013-00300
  47. Venuleo C., Salvatore S., Mossi P., Grassi R. and Ruggeri R. (2007). The teaching relationship in the changing world. Outlines for a theory of the reframing setting. European Journal of School Psychology, 5 (2): 151-180.
  48. Witko K.D., Bernes K. B. and Nixon G. (2005). Care for psychological problems, Collaborative approach in primary care. Family Psysician, 51: 799-801.
  49. Zola I. K. (1973). Pathways to the doctor: From person to patient. Social Science & Medicine, 7 (9): 677-689. DOI: 10.1016/0037-7856(73)90002-4

  • Methods and Instruments in the Study of Meaning-Making Claudia Venuleo, Tiziana Marinaci, Giulia Savarese, Annalisa Venezia, pp.169 (ISBN:978-3-031-21994-8)
  • The Cardiac Rehabilitation Psychodynamic Group Intervention (CR-PGI): An Explorative Study Claudia Venuleo, Gianna Mangeli, Piergiorgio Mossi, Antonio F. Amico, Mauro Cozzolino, Alessandro Distante, Gianfranco Ignone, Giulia Savarese, Sergio Salvatore, in Frontiers in Psychology 976/2018
    DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00976
  • Educational subculture and dropping out in higher education: a longitudinal case study C. Venuleo, P. Mossi, S. Salvatore, in Studies in Higher Education /2016 pp.321
    DOI: 10.1080/03075079.2014.927847
  • Unplanned reaction or something else? The role of subjective cultures in hazardous and harmful drinking Claudia Venuleo, Sara Calogiuri, Simone Rollo, in Social Science & Medicine /2015 pp.9
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.06.023

Claudia Venuleo, Claudia Guacci, Lo psicologo di base entro il servizio sanitario. Un caso studio sull’immagine della funzione psicologica e del servizio integrato espressa da pediatri e medici di base in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 1/2014, pp 73-97, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2014-001004