Who Treats In-Patients with a Primary Psychiatric Diagnosis?

Abstract

Data are presented concerning all patients with a primary psychiatric diagnosis who were admitted to various hospitals in Western Australia during 1976–1978. Data were analysed, first, to ascertain the relative proportion of these patients who were admitted under psychiatrists and non-psychiatrists respectively; second, to compare the diagnoses of patients admitted under psychiatrists with those admitted under non-psychiatrists, and, third, to ascertain if there were any differences in terms of the first two measures between city and country patients. A high proportion of patients were admitted under non-psychiatrists. The majority of patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism, and a high proportion of patients with a diagnosis of neurosis, were admitted under non-psychiatrists. The majority of patients with a diagnosis of functional psychosis were admitted, under psychiatrists, to Mental Health Services hospitals and to psychiatric units at general teaching hospitals. Psychiatrists in private practice admitted mainly patients with a diagnosis of neurosis and personality disorder. The results are discussed in terms of the population distribution, the availability of psychiatric services and other factors which might influence the type of hospital to which patients are admitted and the type of doctor care they receive.