What happens when psychiatric out-patients are seen once only?

The outcome of 30 new psychiatric outpatient consultations at which the psychiatrist decided to see the patient once only was examined after 3 months. Patients were referred from general practice, and evaluation was primarily from the viewpoint of practitioners; the majority were satisfied with a single consultation. However, only about half the patients were seen again by their GPs within the 3-month period, and most of the treatments recommended by the psychiatrists were not carried out by the GPs. Suggestions are offered to ameliorate this disturbing state of affairs.