Differential Characteristics of Medical In-Patients Referred for Psychiatric Consultation: A Controlled Study
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TL;DR
Significant distinguishing characteristics of the consultation patients were found in the chief complaints and history of the present illness, the past medical history, the physicial examination, and the behavior of the patient on admission.
Abstract
The admission work-ups on 100 hospitalized medical patients referred for psychiatric consultation were analyzed for significant data and compared with an individually matched control group of 100 other medical inpatients for whom consultations were not sought. The purpose was to establish whether the two groups differed, and to ascertain which information, as determined by the medical staff on admission, distinguished the patients presently being referred for consultation. Significant distinguishing characteristics of the consultation patients were found in the chief complaints and history of the present illness, the past medical history, the physicial examination, and the behavior of the patient on admission. The implications of these findings are discussed.