Consultation-liaison psychiatry service to the patients from cardiovascular department in a tertiary general hospital in 2016

Abstract

Objective To explore the characteristics of consultation-liaison psychiatry service of patients from cardiovascular department in general hospital. Methods 222 inpatients were enrolled from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, who were referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry service in a general hospital. These data were analyzed, including rate of conclusion, reasons for referral, psychiatric diagnosis, management suggestions and the rate of outpatient visits after discharge and its influencing factors. Results Among all departments of this hospital in 2016, the cardiovascular department took the largest proportion to require consultation-liaison psychiatry service, with the rate of 5.8% (237/4 097) . The principal reasons for psychiatric referral were unexplained physical symptoms or non-satisfactory therapy effect (29.7%, 66/222), the treatment of anxiety symptoms (17.6%, 39/222), having previous history of anxiety or depression (11.3%, 25/222), the treatment of sleep problems (10.8%, 24/222). Anxiety disorders (51.8%, 115/222), depression disorder (13.5%, 30/222), sleep disorders (6.8%, 15/222), stress reaction and adjustment disorder (5.4%, 12/222) were the major psychiatric diagnose. The main management suggestions included antidepressants (48.2%, 107/222), benzodiazepines (41.9%, 93/222) , adjustment of lifestyle (9.5%, 21/222) and non-benzodiazepine sleep drugs (7.7%, 17/222). The rate of outpatient visits after discharge was 7.8% (17/217), and the main influencing factors were: whether the psychotropic medication given at discharge (OR=4.356, 95%CI (1.148-16.535) , P=0.031) and suggestions for psychiatric revisits listed in discharge instruction (OR=4.888, 95%CI (1.566-15.253) , P=0.006) . Conclusion The cardiology inpatients in general hospital have a prominent demand for psychiatric consultation, and anxiety disorder is the most common disease among them. The rate of outpatient visits after discharge is quite lower. Key words: Cardiovascular diseases; Psychotic disorders; Hospitals, general; Referral and consultation