A study of pattern of psychiatric consultation a general hospital psychiatric outpatient clinic in Baghdad

Abstract EN

Objectives: This prospective study aimed to identify the pattern of referral to psychiatric outpatient clinic in general hospital and the characteristics of the referred patients.

Methods: Over a four-month period, 176 outpatients attending the psychiatric clinic of the University Hospital of Saddam College of Medicine were interviewed in a semi-structured interview schedule.

The required data was gathered from the referral letters, patients and their relatives interviews, case notes and in some cases, a personal contact with the referring doctors was made.

Diagnosis made by psychiatrist was based on the ICD-10 criteria.

Results: Out of the total new outpatients, there were 75 patients (42.6%) referred from the hospital doctors of different specialties and 42 persons (24%) referred by themselves or their relatives.

While 28 (16.4%), 23 (13%) and 7 (4%) were referred by general practitioners, psychiatrists outside the hospital and non-medical agencies respectively.

Reasons for referral of physicians were mainly for opinion and management (39.5%).

Comparison of characteristics of patients and their psychiatric diagnosis shows interesting variations among the groups of patients of different referral sources.

Conclusion: The implications of this study findings suggest the need for coordination between hospital psychiatrist and other physicians, cooperation with the general practitioners and psychiatrists outside the hospital and the need for proper recording and registration system.

Finally this study has emphasised the need to educate doctors from different specialties about psychological disorders