Intensive care unit referrals to consultation liaison psychiatry services in a tertiary care hospital

BACKGROUND: Consultation liaison psychiatry as a subspecialty is defined as the area of clinical psychiatry that encompasses clinical understanding, teaching and research activities of psychiatrists in the non-psychiatric divisions of a general hospital. The aim of this study was to access clinical profile of intensive care unit (ICU) referral availing consultation-liaison (CL) psychiatry services in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS & METHODS: The study population comprised all referrals from intensive care unit to consultation liaison psychiatry services over a period of 6months. In a semistructured proforma, demographic profile, reason for referral and psychiatric diagnosis were recorded and analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were referred to consultation liaison psychiatry for evaluation. The most common reason for referral was abnormal behaviour 16(44.4%) followed by suicide or self-harm 8(22.2%) and substance use history 6(16.7%). The most common psychiatric diagnosis was delirium 21(58.3%). Majority of referrals were from medical intensive care unit (MICU) 26(72.2%). CONCLUSION: Delirium was the most common diagnosis in the intensive care settings while as abnormal behaviour was the most common reason of referral.