RECENT CHANGES IN CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY - A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE

To better understand the changes in the past 5 years on consultation-l iaison (C-L) services in the United States, 119 university programs we re surveyed. The-return response was 64%. Of the 76 respondents, 32% h ad decreased funding, 54% no changes or stable finding, and 14% improv ed funding. Nonetheless, 57% of the programs reported funding difficul ties as a major problem. Understaffing was reported by 51% of the prog rams. Liaison activities have ceased or are reduced in 70% of the prog rams; 15% reported an increase in liaison, particularly for transplant ation. C-L services have been affected by illness acuity (68%), shorte r hospital stays (79%), and older populations (54%). The diagnostic mi x shows increases in HN-related disorders, drug abuse, and delirium. T he discussion includes recommendations for C-L services given these fi ndings.