Geriatric psychiatry at the interface of consultation-liaison psychiatry and primary care.

Objective: This article describes the evolution of a primary care geriatric psychiatry program which serves clinical, educational, and research functions.

Methods: Program development proceeded through stages of liaison using research, focusing on primary care attendings, and developing the common interest of geriatrics.

Results: Collaborative research with external funding has continued. A geriatric psychiatry primary care fellowship program was established. Clinical activity is based on consultation-liaison work in nursing homes, an outpatient dementia clinic, a general hospital medical service, and the outpatient clinic. Fellows are involved in training both psychiatry and primary care residents.

Conclusions: Necessary components of a successful collaboration include: 1) primary care physicians with an interest in and aptitude for psychiatric issues; 2) delivery of service and training based on an assessment of the primary care site's needs; 3) a physical presence in the primary care site.