This Article  • Full text PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

BIJAN ETEMAD, MD
Medical Director Institute on Aging Ambler, PA 19002 and Northwest Center Philadelphia, PA 19119

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1978;35(7):904-905.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—I am writing in response to a recently published article in the ARCHIVES by McIntyre and Romano (34:1147-1151, 1977) that underscores the importance of considering a screening physical examination on all patients prior to the institution of psychiatric treatment, whether it is in the form of psychotherapy or chemotherapy. I would like to inform you of the experience we have had using this approach.

The Northwest Center, Philadelphia, is one of the few community mental health centers that requires a complete and comprehensive medical evaluation prior to the commencement of psychiatric treatment. Since April 1974, the center has made it mandatory that all new clients have a thorough medical evaluation; this includes a physical examination, complete blood cell count, serology, 24 factor automated blood chemistry analysis, urinalysis, chest roentgenogram, etc.

The choice of physician is made by the patient who may choose his/her own or use the . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?