Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry—from theory to clinical practice: an observational study in a general hospital

BACKGROUND: To investigate significant association between various clinical and extra-clinical factors brought out the activities of Consultation-Liaison Service. METHODS: Data from all psychiatric consultations for patients admitted to the Perugia General Hospital and carried out over a 1-year period (from July the 1st 2009 to June the 30th 2010) were collected by a structured clinical report including: socio-demographic features, features of referrals, features of back-referrals. T-test, Mann–Whitney U-test, χ(2)-test and Fischer’s were statistically used. RESULTS: 1098 consultations were performed. The consultations carried out the Emergency Unit were excluded from the study. The type and the reasons for the referrals were discussed such as the ICD-10 diagnosis and the liaison interventions too. Significant associations emerged between gender and: social status and occupation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively). Clinical sector related with reason for referral (p < 0.01), type of consultation (p < 0.01), liaison investigations (p < 0.01) and long-term treatment plan after hospital discharge (p < 0.01). The ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis (Schizophrenia, Affective Syndrome and Neurotic-StressSomatoform Syndrome) was associated with social status (p < 0.01), social condition (p < 0.01), consultation type (p < 0.01), advice (p < 0.01) and reason for consultation (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The need for better physical and psychological investigation is confirmed in order to promote not only disease remission but overall wellbeing. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13104-015-1375-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.