The Psychiatric Consultation Patient

Abstract

Growing numbers of psychiatric services in general hospitals emphasize the importance of psychiatric consultation as part of comprehensive medical care. The literature supports the high prevalence rate of emotional distress in general medical and surgical patients. This paper underscores the need for appropriate selection of patients for consultation, and the means of referral. The psychiatrist is faced with the important challenge of bringing the humanizing force of consultation to forms of medical treatment which are becoming increasingly technological.