The present state of consultation and liaison psychiatry

Abstract

Although referral by general hospital doctors is a major pathway to specialist psychiatric care, and there is known to be much clinically unrecognised psychiatric morbidity among general hospital patients, consultation and liaison services have received much less emphasis than community care. A 1984 survey found that consultation liaison services were haphazard (Mayou & Lloyd, 1985). Despite recent evidence of increasing clinical and academic interest, few local strategic plans refer to consultation and liaison services; even when mentioned they are given a lower priority than community developments (Kingdon, 1989).