[One mutual consultation with patient, psychiatrist and regular general practitioner may be sufficient]

Ordinary referral of a patient from the regular general practitioner (RGP) to a psychiatrist often implies a long waiting-time and numerous consultations. In many cases, it is not necessary that specialists take over treatment of the patients, but rather that they offer support to the RPGs.

Patient-consultations with both a psychiatrist and the RGP present can, in some cases, answer many questions and be a shortcut to a correct diagnosis and treatment. The article presents a method for "simultaneous-consultations", and the authors' experience with the 19 patients they have examined in this way during the last five years.

The psychiatrist has made 48 diagnoses in 19 patients. Personality disorder has been a frequent additional diagnosis. For 17 of the patients this consultation was sufficient. Two of the patients have needed further contact with a psychiatrist.

For patients who do not need an extensive examination and treatment by a specialist, a simultaneous consultation with the RGP and a psychiatrist can be a good alternative. The patients have felt well during the consultation and it has been highly instructive for the RGP. Patients with several psychiatric diagnoses seem to be most difficult for the RGP, especially those with personality disorders. We believe that many of the cases referred to a psychiatrist are suited for this type of consultation. It is possible that this method can be beneficial in cooperation with other specialists as well.