Twenty-eight years of liaison psychiatry at a general hospital

Abstract

Aims and methodA questionnaire was used to measure physician satisfaction with the unit and comparison of referral numbers and diagnoses with 1967, when the unit was new, and in 1985 when it was re-audited.ResultsDespite physicians' satisfaction with the service, the referral rate remains unchanged.Clinical implicationsLiaison psychiatry should not concern itself with trying to increase referral rates. Research into patient outcome should be a priority and guide its future direction.