Consultation-liaison psychiatry in a general hospital setting in west Africa.

This study examined the pattern of psychiatric consultation-liaison service in a West African general hospital setting over a period of five years. Cases seen were recorded in a register and later analysed. The rate of referral was found to be lower than those of Britain and USA. Most of the patients seen were young persons between the ages of 16 and 45 years. The predominant physical disorders complicated by psychopathology were infective disorders, neurological disorders, cardiovascular, and obstetric conditions. The commonest psychiatric syndromes encountered were acute brain syndrome, brief reactive psychosis, depressive disorder and dementia. A negative attitude towards patients with psychiatric co-morbidity was identified. Areas of improving consultation-liaison psychiatric services in West Africa are suggested.