A Contextual History of the Behavioral Sciences in Family Medicine Revisited

While early attempts to incorporate behavioral science teaching in U.S. medical education were often short-lived, the behavioral sciences and psychiatry have had an enduring impact on family medicine education, theory, and research. Nevertheless, recurrent challenges, reflective of persistent conflicts within family medicine and throughout academic medicine in the U.S., confront behavioral science faculty. Moreover, recent changes in U.S. healthcare pose new challenges for family medicine, mental health, and the future of family medicine-behavioral science collaboration. A set of principles, articulated in the collective writings of Engel, Cassell, McWhinney, and others, highlight core aspects of the behavioral science role in family medicine. These principles should inform our efforts and, thereby, ensure a future for this promising healthcare alliance.