INTEGRATING FAMILY MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY PROGRAMS IN COLLABORATIVE CARE: AN EXPERIENCE WITHIN MATRIX SUPPORT WORK

Matrix Support is the main strategy to articulate mental health with primary health care in the Family Health Strategy (ESF) from the Brazilian Universal Health System. Training medical residents in this new work process is fundamental for the development of this proposal. Objective: to study and discuss a mental health matrix support experience at the Family Clinic Nicola Albano in Programmatic Area 2.2 in Rio de Janeiro, held as part of the residency programs of Family Medicine (MFC) and Psychiatry from University of Rio de Janeiro State. Method: To study matrix support from the perspective of the interaction between these two residency programs we have analyzed and discussed the records of joint consultations held weekly during a period of six months Results: three main aspects arose: the type of patients and demands elected by the MFC to be interviewed in joint consultations with the psychiatrist; the importance of increasing the MFC contact with other services in Mental Health Network and organize the referrals flow; and the support MFC need to maintain psychotropic medication, especially in stabilized patients with severe and persistent mental disorder. Conclusion: collaborative care, which integrates psychiatric knowledge in the generalist practice, demonstrated the obstacles and possibilities that patients with mental disorders face in the primary care health units. The most significant demands that were detected are consistent with the literature on the challenges to integrate mental health in primary health care in Brazil.