Psychiatrists' letters to general practitioners: choosing the right format

Abstract

Letters from psychiatrists to general practitioners (GPs) should provide an appropriate content in a format which is easy to write and assimilate. For content, GPs have requested “key items” (diagnosis, suicide risk, treatment, prognosis and follow-up), and an explanation which is educational (Williams & Wallace, 1974; Pullen & Yellowlees, 1985; Margo, 1982). For format, GPs preferred a one page letter with two or three sub-headings in a survey based on one fictitious case (Yellowless & Pullen, 1984). Real letters from psychiatrists in one district averaged one and three quarter pages with four subheadings (Prasher et al, 1992). GPs' opinions about actual changes in the format and content of letters sent to them have not been reported.