The Inextricable Nature of Mental and Physical Health: Implications for Integrative Care

Abstract

There is growing evidence that physical health problems are caused and exacerbated by psychological factors. Research indicates that psychological distress leads to physical disease through impairment of the neuroendocrine system and its interface with the body’s immune response. However, the current health care delivery system splinters care into “psychiatric” and “physical” health silos. New approaches are needed to assure adequate professional knowledge of behavioral health at basic licensure, to increase the use of advanced practice psychiatric—mental health nurses in primary care settings, to identify and teach behavioral competencies for primary care providers, and to fund the design and evaluation of integrative models of care.