Increased demand for psychosomatic consultation service (C-service) in a Department of Cardiology/Pneumtology due to psychometric screening

The aim of the study was to test whether the routine use of the Hospital An xiety and Depression Scale HADS changes the frequency and the duration of c alling the psychosomatic C-service, 70% of all patients of the department o f cardiology/pneumology were registered by the HADS, Psychometric screening raised the number of patients checked by the C-service (15.3 vs, 2.7% of a ll patients of the department; p < 0.01) and reduced the duration of the ca ll for the C-service (2.7 vs, 6.4 days; p <0.01) compared to conventional C -service, Elevated scores in HADS were found in 26% of the patients (21% de pression, 12% anxiety),