Patient Response to Psychiatric Consultation in a General Hospital *

Abstract

Inpatients referred for psychiatric consultation were evaluated during and after the consultation to determine their response to this event. A majority saw the consultation as relevant and/or helpful. The presence of anxiety or depression was associated with a positive response. Patients without a disturbance of mood responded negatively, obtained no direct benefit from consultation, and were likely to have had a diagnosis of psychogenic regional pain, alcoholism or drug dependence.