Premium
Referrals to a psychogeriatic consultation–liaison service
Author(s) -
Scott Jan,
Fairbairn Andrew,
Woodhouse Ken
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.930030210
Subject(s) - referral , liaison psychiatry , delirium , depression (economics) , dementia , medicine , medical diagnosis , psychiatry , service (business) , general hospital , family medicine , disease , economy , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
This study reviews referrals of elderly medically ill patients to a psychogeriatric team in a district general hospital. Sociodemographic variables, medical diagnosis, source and reasons for referral, and primary DSM III diagnosis were determined. The impact on referral patterns of the introduction of a pscychogeriatric liaison attachment to complement the existing consultation service was also assessed. In three years, 217 patients were referred, the majority from the general medical specialities. The median age of the sample was 79.5 years, more than half were female and over 60% demonstrated multiple physical pathology, particularly cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disorders. The most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses were dementia, delirium and depression. The pattern of referrals changed significantly with the introduction of the consultation–liaison service. The number of referrals increased by over 100% and there was a significant increase in the recognition and referral of functional psychiatric disorders, especially depression. The role of the geriatricians and the liaison psychiatry attachment in promoting these changes and the clinical, teaching and research advantages of this type of collaboration are discussed.