An epidemiologic study of a psychiatric liaison service.

An epidemiologic study of 308 consultations revealed substantial differences in referral rates related to the demographic, clinical, and programmatic characteristics of patients and services. Actual liaison was associated with substantially increased referral rates across all age groups. Female patients appeared to have differentially benefited by liaison activities in terms of obtaining appropriate psychiatric intervention. Across all services studied (medicine, neurology, surgery, and obstetrics/gynecology), consultation appeared mainly directed at establishing a specific psychiatric diagnosis and treatment. Markedly different patterns of emotional disturbance were noted across different medical disease categories (e.g., cancer, chronic renal disease).