APA Dictionary of Psychology

a mental health care model in which behavioral health practitioners are embedded within primary care settings so that they may collaborate with other clinicians in providing whole-person care to patients. IBHC practitioners see a wide range of patients, initially in a short session immediately after referral from a physician who has ascertained the presence of a mental health concern (e.g., depression, anxiety) during a medical examination. Brief screening instruments may be used to assess the presenting problem and to determine treatment for it, with brief follow-up sessions scheduled to provide that treatment (e.g., cognitive behavior therapy, behavioral activation, relaxation training) and to monitor its effectiveness. This arrangement is sometimes called collaborative care, but IBHC is a service integrated into one health care setting, whereas collaborative care usually refers to ad hoc cooperation between separate offices or practices. Also called primary care behavioral health.