A Retrospective Analysis of Referrals to Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry over a Five-Year Period in a Tertiary Hospital in South Africa
type: CreativeWork
description: Objective: The aim of this study was to review referrals to the consultation-liaison psychiatric service at Groote Schuur Hospital including the number of referrals, demographic details of referred patients, medical and psychiatric diagnoses, management and outcome over a five-year-period. It was anticipated that referrals had increased on an annual basis. Method: The study was observational and was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. All inpatients referred to consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) during the study period were included. The study information was gathered via data capture sheets that are completed for patients referred to the division. Results: A total of 1978 patients were referred to CLP and analysed in the study. Most referrals occurred in 2018 (n=499; 25.2%). The majority of referrals came from the division of internal medicine (n=607; 30.7%), and the main reasons for referral were unspecified (n=402; 20.3%), suicide/risk assessment (n=333; 16.8%), and other symptoms of mental illness (n=264; 13.3%). The most frequent immediate management included medication initiation or adjustment (n=793; 40.1%), and supportive counselling/psychoeducation (n=511; 25.8%). Conclusion: Referral numbers to the division have increased during the study period as hypothesized. As expected, most referrals came from the internal medicine division. The results from this study highlight the importance of the consultation-liaison service at Groote Schuur Hospital.
abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to review referrals to the consultation-liaison psychiatric service at Groote Schuur Hospital including the number of referrals, demographic details of referred patients, medical and psychiatric diagnoses, management and outcome over a five-year-period. It was anticipated that referrals had increased on an annual basis. Method: The study was observational and was conducted at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa. All inpatients referred to consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) during the study period were included. The study information was gathered via data capture sheets that are completed for patients referred to the division. Results: A total of 1978 patients were referred to CLP and analysed in the study. Most referrals occurred in 2018 (n=499; 25.2%). The majority of referrals came from the division of internal medicine (n=607; 30.7%), and the main reasons for referral were unspecified (n=402; 20.3%), suicide/risk assessment (n=333; 16.8%), and other symptoms of mental illness (n=264; 13.3%). The most frequent immediate management included medication initiation or adjustment (n=793; 40.1%), and supportive counselling/psychoeducation (n=511; 25.8%). Conclusion: Referral numbers to the division have increased during the study period as hypothesized. As expected, most referrals came from the internal medicine division. The results from this study highlight the importance of the consultation-liaison service at Groote Schuur Hospital.
author: Romburgh, Bailee Jean
keywords: Psychiatry
date published: 2022
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:23:22Z
provider: University of Cape Town
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/37795