Primary psychiatric illness in a neurological out-patient department in North East England. An assessment of symptomatology.

A total of 2,716 patients attended a neurological out-patient clinic in North East England between May 1970 and May 1974. The symptomatology of 358 patients with primary psychiatric illness has been analyzed in a retrospective study. There were 172 symptom wordings and these were grouped in 18 headings. The most common symptoms were headache, dizziness and pain in the body. The presenting symptoms were analyzed with reference to age, sex, pattern of referral, diagnostic category and method of disposal. Aspects of non-organic disease in a neurological clinic are discussed.