Psychiatric Referral and Medical History of Outpatients in a General Hospital

Abstract

Outpatients of the Department of Internal Medicine with an early psychiatric referral (within twelve weeks), when compared with outpatients of the same department referred to the psychiatrist at a later stage or not at all, were found to be ten years younger when the complaints started, when they first visited the G.P. and (later) a medical specialist, and at the time of the investigation. They had visited more medical specialists and had been admitted to hospital more frequently.

Outpatients of the pain clinic with an early psychiatric referral (within six weeks), when compared with outpatients of the same department referred to the psychiatrist later or not at all were eleven years younger when the complaints started and eight years younger when they first visited the G.P. They were referred later to a medical specialist, visited more medical specialists, and belonged to a lower social class and income group. The results are discussed and compared with those of inpatient-studies.