ORGANIC MENTAL-DISORDERS IN THE CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY SETTING - A MULTISITE STUDY

Interventions recommended by consultation-liaison psychiatrists for in patients they diagnosed as having DSM-III-R organic mental disorder (O MD) were studied to see to what extent specific variables distinguishe d the OMD patients and differentiated the subgroups of patients with O MD. Prospective data and Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores on 625 c onsecutive referrals at 3 general hospitals in Australia and the Unite d States were collected by using the MICRO-CARES database system. The OMD group differed from the other patients because they were significa ntly more likely to have been referred for ''organic brain syndrome'' or ''agitation,'' had less mood disorder and lower MMSE scores, and re ceived more recommendations for antipsychotics and for ward-environmen t manipulation and fewer recommendations for psychological management. The many differences among the OMD subgroups were also consistent wit h their DSM constructs. A pilot exploration of the validity of the DSM -IV constructs of cognitive disorder and its subgroups performed on th e redistributed data suggested that these constructs have similar usef ulness.