Patterns Of Psychiatric Referrals In Tertiary Care Hospital: An Overview Of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry
Psychiatric Referrals In Tertiary Care Hospital
Keywords:
Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Psychiatric referrals, Substance use disorderAbstract
Background&Objective:To study the patterns of psychiatric referrals in a newly established tertiary care
teaching Hospital has been important for understanding consultation liaison psychiatry and setting up better general
hospital psychiatric units. The aim of the present study was to study referral characteristics’ of patients of various
departments to psychiatric unit at a tertiary care teaching hospital.Methodology:All referrals made to psychiatry
department over a period of one year were assessed by psychiatrist based on structured performa including
demographic data, referring department, referral note, present complaints, past history of psychiatric illness, family
history of psychiatric illness, mental status examination and DSM –IV-TR criteria to diagnose psychiatric illness and
analyzed.Results:Out of 400 referred patients to psychiatry unit over a period of one year, majority were from
Medicine department (62.75%). Substance use disorder (37.25%) was the most common diagnosis followed by
depressive disorders (15.75%) and anxiety disorders (8.25%). 235 (58.75%) references were with statement like
‘psychiatry reference’ and no reason mentioned for that. Significantly higher proportions of OPD referrals (71.81%)
were made with statement like ‘psychiatry reference’ and no reason mentioned for that as compared IPD referrals
(41.62%). Significantly higher proportions of patients (66.75%) with past history of psychiatric illness were referred
with statement like ‘psychiatry reference’ and no reason mentioned for that as compared to patients (52.81%)
without past history of psychiatric illness. Conclusion:Study highlights importance of consultation-liaison psychiatry
through referral pattern in a tertiary care teaching hospital. More referrals for Substance use disorders suggest
emerging need to develop separate deaddiction services in our setting. Past history of psychiatric illness was
considered significant factor for referrals from other departments and majority of references were without any
details. There is need to sensitize other specialists, especially general physicians who are the common source of
referrals regarding common psychiatric conditions and proper referral note to improve consultation liaison
psychiatry in general hospital setup.[Desai N NJIRM2016; 7(2):56-60]
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