Dh. Brown et al., ASSESSMENT AND REFERRAL PATTERNS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED AFTER DELIBERATE SELF-POISONINGE, Scottish Medical Journal, 40(5), 1995, pp. 144-146
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.