Characteristics of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry in a Psychiatric Hospital in Beijing / 中国心理卫生杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the characteristics of consultation-liaison psychiatry service in general hospital.Methods:Totaly 541 consecutive inpatients from general hospitals were enrolled,who were referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry service of a psychiatric hospital during a one-year period.The data was analyzed,including demographic characteristics,reasons for referral,referral department,psychiatric diagnosis according to criteria in the 4th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders(DSM-IV),and psychiatric management suggestions.Results:The rate of psychiatric consultation in the hospital which applied for the most consultations was 1.0%.The patients with psychiatric history(22.6%)were most likely to be referred.The principal reasons for psychiatric referral were psychotic episode(31.8%),depression(13.1%),and anxiety disorder(10.9%).According to DSM-IV,cognitive disorders(32.2%),depressive disorder(17.7%),anxiety disorder(13.1%),schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders(9.8%)were the major psychiatric diagnoses.The psychiatrists prescribed antipsychotics in 72.8% patients,gave nursing and behavior suggestions in 39.2% patients,gave following-up suggestion in 38.1% patients,and provided suicide prevention in 10.2% patients.Conclusion:It is important to expand the consultation-liaison psychiatry service in general hospital.And it is necessary to improve the physicians' ability in recognition and treatment of psychiatric disorder in patient with physical illness.