Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry—from theory to clinical practice: an observational study in a general hospital

Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry—from theory to clinical practice: an observational study in a general hospital

BMC Research Notes, September 2015

26403798

Giuseppina De Giorgio, Roberto Quartesan, Tiziana Sciarma, Martina Giulietti, Angela Piazzoli, Laura Scarponi, Silvia Ferrari, Laura Ferranti, Patrizia Moretti, Massimiliano Piselli

To investigate significant association between various clinical and extra-clinical factors brought out the activities of Consultation-Liaison Service. Data from all psychiatric consultations for patients admitted to the Perugia General Hospital and carried out over a 1-year period (from July the 1st 2009 to June the 30th 2010) were collected by a structured clinical report including: socio-demographic features, features of referrals, features of back-referrals. T-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, χ(2)-test and Fischer's were statistically used. 1098 consultations were performed. The consultations carried out the Emergency Unit were excluded from the study. The type and the reasons for the referrals were discussed such as the ICD-10 diagnosis and the liaison interventions too. Significant associations emerged between gender and: social status and occupation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively). Clinical sector related with reason for referral (p < 0.01), type of consultation (p < 0.01), liaison investigations (p < 0.01) and long-term treatment plan after hospital discharge (p < 0.01). The ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis (Schizophrenia, Affective Syndrome and Neurotic-StressSomatoform Syndrome) was associated with social status (p < 0.01), social condition (p < 0.01), consultation type (p < 0.01), advice (p < 0.01) and reason for consultation (p < 0.01). The need for better physical and psychological investigation is confirmed in order to promote not only disease remission but overall wellbeing.