Psychiatric consults on medical and surgical wards: a six year study

Using a psychiatric consultation database 1,463 consults were completed over a six-year period (1980 to 1986). Many variables were studied, including demographics, who requested the consults, the reasons for consultation, DSM-III diagnoses, and treatment recommendations. Most variables were unstable from year to year despite thorough and consistent supervision. This study demonstrates the vulnerability of traditionally reported consultation data in establishing norms for defining psychiatric morbidity in the hospital. Future recommendations are discussed.