CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY - A COMPARISON OF 2 SERVICE MODELS FOR GERIATRIC-PATIENTS

In general hospitals the psychiatric morbidity in the old and frail is at least 40%. Two models for the provision of a psychiatric service t o hospitalized geriatric patients were evaluated in order to identify which model most effectively fulfilled the aims of liaison psychiatry. At present, consultation type services predominate and there is some concern that an active liaison service could increase the referral rat e of cases more appropriately dealt with by physicians. In this study an active liaison model was not associated with a marked increase in t he referral rate, and when compared to a service with an emphasis on c onsultation, there was a higher degree of diagnostic accuracy by refer ring doctors in the liaison type model.