CONSULTING WITH THE ANXIOUS PATIENT .1. COMPLEXITIES OF THE CONSULTATION PROCESS AND PROBLEMS OF REFERRAL

At least 20% of medical patients have anxiety disorders and are in nee d of treatment, but work with anxious patients is complicated by their distortions and often negative attitudes toward physicians and hospit als. Consultation is complicated by inconsistent referral patterns. Mo st anxious medical patients accept psychiatric consultation: only 15% to 20% have negative attitudes toward psychiatry. Guidelines for refer ral are presented.