PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTANT SERVICE AT A UNIVE RSITY HOSPITAL - AN EMPIRICAL-STUDY ON ITS CHARACTERISTICS

In Germany, there is growing interest in consultant psychiatry on a sc ientific and practical level. On the other hand, very few results have been reported concerning the tasks and functions of consultant servic es. This study was conducted in the Lubeck University Hospital to eval uate psychiatric consultant interventions by assessing referral rates, reasons for referrals, psychiatric diagnoses and recommendations. A t otal of 5334 consultations from 7 years (1983-1989) was analyzed, and a sample of 1000 consultations was taken. Over the years, a continuous increase in the consultation rates can be observed, with suicide and alcoholism as important focuses. The most frequent diagnoses were adju stment disorders, organic disorders and alcoholism. Psychopharmacologi cal intervention, referral to the psychiatric/psychosomatic ward, and short practical advice were the most frequent recommendations. The res ults are discussed in the context of the international literature.