PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL REHABILITATION PATIENTS

We conducted a study to demonstrate the frequency and types of psychia tric/psychological symptoms. A Structured Interview according to the D SM-III-R was conducted which demonstrated that 46 (41.4%) of 111 rehab ilitation inpatients met the criteria for some forms of psychiatric di sorders: 34 patients for major depression, 10 for adjustment disorder with anxious mood, and 2 for posttraumatic stress disorder. The remain ing 65 patients (58.6%) showed normal reactions to their diseases. Ave rage length of hospital stay for patients with major depression was si gnificantly longer than those with no or the other types of psychiatri c disease. They were also tested with Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Profile of Mood States (POMS). Three psychological tests were useful in detecting dep ression or adjustment disorder among rehabilitation patients; however, these tests are not always specific to the type of psychiatric disord ers. Patients with higher scores in those three tests should be referr ed to a psychiatric consultant for detailed examinations and proper tr eatments, if necessary.