Jr. Rundell et Rcw. Hall, PAST MENTAL-HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT HISTORY AND PSYCHIATRICDIFFERENTIAL-DIAGNOSIS IN CONSULTATION-LIAISON PATIENTS, Psychosomatics, 38(3), 1997, pp. 262-268
The purpose of this study was to determine whether frequencies of any
current primary or secondary (organic) psychiatric diagnoses in consul
tation-liaison (C-L) patients are associated with patient report of pa
st history of mental health or substance use disorder treatment. Clini
cal information recorded in 134 C-L patients was retrospectively analy
zed with the chi-square test, two-tailed, or Fisher's Exact Test when
the sample sizes were less than or equal to 5. The results revealed th
at the overall likelihood of the existence of a secondary psychiatric
disorder diagnosis is elevated when there is no treatment history (P =
0.009). A primary psychiatric disorder is more likely to be diagnosed
when there is treatment history (P = 0.009). Specific psychiatric dia
gnoses more likely to be present when there is no treatment history ar
e organic mood disorder, depressed (P = 0.020) and adjustment disorder
(P = 0.010). Specific diagnoses more likely to be present when there
is treatment history are psychoactive substance-withdrawal syndrome (P
= 0.014) and alcohol abuse or dependence (P = 0.028). The authors con
clude that psychiatric treatment history can help C-L psychiatrists wi
th differential diagnostic considerations.