REFERRAL PATTERNS IN CONSULTATION LIAISON PSYCHIATRY IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL

BACKGROUND Over the past two decades, research in psychiatry has identified the importance of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP). However, this awareness has not yet brought significant change in research and particularly in clinical practice causing increased mortality and the morbidity. This retrospective case record analysis describes the Consultation Liaison patterns from January 2015 to December 2017 in the GSL General Hospital, a tertiary hospital in Rajanagaram. We wanted to evaluate the referral patterns to psychiatry department in a tertiary care hospital during the study period. METHODS A retrospective case record analysis of the psychiatric outpatient referrals from all the departments of GSL General Hospital from January 2015 to December 2017 was carried out. The parameters included were source of referral, reason for referral, symptomatology, relevant medical history, investigations and the provisional diagnosis. The results obtained were statistically analysed. RESULTS The findings of the present study show that prevalence of referrals has increased over the years. Other variables like marital status, lifestyle, and locality were compared but with no statistical significance. Psychoses, mood disorders, anxiety spectrum disorders and drug dependence formed the main junk of referrals and most of the organic part of the referrals is from the department of Neurology. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that psychiatrists must create more awareness among their colleagues from other medical departments about the importance of liaison failing which could lead to incomplete treatment and continuous morbidity.