[Discharge summary--business card of the psychiatric hospital?].

OBJECTIVE: Hospital discharge letters represent important means of communication between clinicians and physicians in private practice. They greatly contribute to continuous patient management.
METHODS: A survey of the literature is carried out to provide a basis for an optimal psychiatric discharge letter.
RESULTS: Deficiencies in quality of discharge summaries have been mentioned in many studies. These mainly concern delay and length of the letters. Well-structured form letters are preferred. Diagnosis, results of investigations, medication, and treatment after discharge are considered the most important details in the letter.
CONCLUSIONS: Summarizing the results, the requirements for an optimal psychiatric discharge letter should be implemented in clinical practice to improve the record and also consumer satisfaction. Computer-generated discharge summaries can improve speed of delivery by using a standardized documentation system in psychiatry and new information technology.