CONSULTATION-LIAISON ELECTIVE FOR PRIMARY-CARE RESIDENTS

Former internal medicine (N = 24, 88.9%) and psychiatry residents (N = 13, 100%) who shared time on a consultation-liaison service responded to a survey assessing their educational expectations and the ability of the rotation to meet these. Internists rated the time spent with patients (54.2%) as most valuable and requested more psychiatric training (70.8%) to enhance supportive therapy. All psychiatrists reported they most benefited from exposure to the medically ill patient (100%) and learning about organic brain disorders (92%). A comparison of psychotropic prescribing practices indicated that internists were comfortable prescribing anxiolytics and antidepressants more frequently than the psychiatrists advised they should be. The internists remained positive about the value of psychiatric consultation and recommendations. Both psychiatrists and internists felt they benefited from the experience and urged continuation of the joint rotation. Recommendations to increase rounding time and resident-to-resident presentations might further enhance the mutuality both groups highly valued.