Psychiatric consultations in a Finnish university hospital

Abstract

Suicidal attempts, depression, and psychoactive substance abuse disorders were the main problems behind consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatric referrals in a Finnish university hospital. Emergency consultation was needed in more than half of the cases. Men and women were referred equally, but the number of elderly patients and of psycho-organic disorders was lower than expected. There were few referrals for poor coping, and adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder were diagnosed only rarely. Patients' psychosocial level of functioning was considerably diminished, and they were mostly in acute need of care and help. Thus, the most important intervention was to arrange adequate psychiatric care. The number of patients referred to psychiatric outpatient care was twice as high as in the literature.