Effect of a psychiatric liaison program on consultation rates and on detection of minor psychiatric disorders in cancer patients.

Because only 2% of the 47% of cancer patients with psychiatric disorders receive psychiatric consultations, the authors investigated the impact of a psychiatric liaison program on improving consultation rates on a gynecologic oncology unit. Consultation rates for gynecologic cancer patients before and after introduction of the program were compared to rates from other cancer patients in the same hospital during the same 7-year period. Rates for the gynecologic patients were higher after the program (9%) than before (4%), as were rates for follow-up consultations, and the detection of minor DSM-III disorders improved. The authors conclude that liaison improves access to psychiatric treatments that often enhance the quality of life for seriously ill patients.