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Joint liaison psychiatry-diabetes clinic: a new specialist service
C Mitchell1, J Catalan, C McIntosh
1Psychological Medicine Unit, Mental Health Centre, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
Aims:
Specialist diabetes clinics have an established role in prevention and management of complications. As psychological problems are usually treated separately from diabetes centres, the role of a specialist psychiatrist within a teaching hospital was assessed. The aims of the study were to describe referral patterns, specific psychiatric conditions and treatments offered.
Results:
During weekly outpatient sessions over a 12-month period, 31 patients were referred with a wide range of psychiatric diagnoses. One-third of patients were seen on the day and two-thirds within 2 weeks of referral. Treatments included anti-depressant medication, counselling and cognitive behaviour therapy. Successful discharge was obtained in 10 subjects and eight were undergoing continued treatment.
Conclusions:
The range of specific diagnoses requiring psychiatric supervision supported the role of specifically trained personnel as seen in a joint liaison psychiatry-diabetes service.