[Discharge summary--business card of the psychiatric hospital?]

Hospital discharge letters represent important means of communication between clinicians and physicians in private practice. They greatly contribute to continuous patient management.

A survey of the literature is carried out to provide a basis for an optimal psychiatric discharge letter.

Deficiencies in quality of discharge summaries have been mentioned in many studies. These mainly concern delay and length of the letters. Well-structured form letters are preferred. Diagnosis, results of investigations, medication, and treatment after discharge are considered the most important details in the letter.

Summarizing the results, the requirements for an optimal psychiatric discharge letter should be implemented in clinical practice to improve the record and also consumer satisfaction. Computer-generated discharge summaries can improve speed of delivery by using a standardized documentation system in psychiatry and new information technology.