Automated online transition from the medical record to the psychiatric literature.

Psych Topix is a knowledge-based program which guides the clinician from an on-line clinical report to a search of the psychiatric literature or of other relevant databases. It provides this guidance by using an outline of key topics in a clinical field to provide "concept-based" links. Each topic is augmented with an activation expression to signal when that topic is potentially relevant to a case, and with database search expressions to allow focused retrieval of information. The bibliographic retrieval component of Psych Topix is currently operational as part of the daily, routine operation of a psychiatric consultation service. The system is also implemented in a demonstration mode to provide retrieval from three additional textual databases. The current Psych Topix system provides a working demonstration of the clinical feasibility of using concept-based links to facilitate the focused, automated transition between on-line medical databases.