ABSTRACT
Symptoms and circumstances 49 Who can help provide help and how? 53 Systems and frameworks 53 Effects on the professions: the way
forward 56 References 57 Further reading 58
Psychological issues are important in all encounters between a doctor and a patient, and the ability to comprehend, assess and manage these, in partnership with the patient, is a basic medical skill. This is particularly so in general practice, where many of the necessary skills can be learnt and insight obtained.
