ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL PATTERNS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED AFTER DELIBERATE SELF-POISONINGE

Citation
Dh. Brown et al., ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL PATTERNS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED AFTER DELIBERATE SELF-POISONINGE, Scottish Medical Journal, 40(5), 1995, pp. 144-146
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Medicine, General & Internal
Journal title
ISSN journal
00369330
Volume
40
Issue
5
Year of publication
1995
Pages
144 - 146
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-9330(1995)40:5<144:AARPOP>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
The assessment and referral patterns of adult patients after deliberat e self-poisoning in Dundee were examined. Questionnaires were complete d by the admitting physicians and assessing psychiatrists over a 3 mon th period. Demographic data concerning the patients and the nature of self-harm were similar to previous studies. Initial referral rate was 95% but dropped to between 70% and 81% after the post receiving round. Up to 2 hours/day could be required for assessment and 75% of the cas es required some form of psychiatric follow-up. Although both groups o f doctors considered that the majority of patients required or would b enefit from psychiatric referral, there was poor agreement when patien ts were independently categorised into high or low suicide risk (kappa = 0.04). Agreement was also low regarding whether referral was essent ial or not (kappa = 0.06). Although junior medical staff can play an i mportant role in screening of patients, the psychiatric service includ ing trained nurses, may be best placed to provide a full assessment, w here required.