Physical diseases in psychiatric in-patients referral pattern

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the referral pattern of physical illnesses in psychiatric in-patients. Method: A prospective study was carried out over 12 months. The referrals from the psychiatric in-patient unit in a teaching hospital in Riyadh City were studied. Informations including demographic data, reasons for referral, specialty consulted and pattern of response were analyzed. The total consultation rate was 38.4% [81 patients]. There was more than one referral for 47 patients. The most commonly consulted specialty was medicine [69%]. New physical complaints in females significantly outnumbered known physical illness and abnormal investigations. Physical diseases in psychiatric in-patient are not uncommon. Unfortunately, physical complaints from psychiatric patients are often initially considered to be somatization, abnormal sensation, or contrived to attain a secondary gain. Results of this study may provide baseline statistics for local psychiatrists and mental health planners for better psychiatric services in the future