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. 1974 Feb 16;1(5902):268–270. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5902.268

Psychiatric Morbidity and Referral on Two General Medical Wards

G P Maguire, D L Julier, K E Hawton, J H J Bancroft
PMCID: PMC1633152  PMID: 4818184

Abstract

Psychiatric morbidity among 230 medical inpatients was determined by a two-stage screening procedure, using the General Health Questionnaire and Standardized Psychiatric Interview. Of these patients, 23% were considered psychiatrically ill, affective disorders being the commonest illnesses encountered; and 27 (12%) were psychiatrically referred. While referral was related to severity of psychiatric illness and previous psychiatric illness, the degree to which the psychiatric illness obtruded or created problems in management appeared more crucial in determining referral. In half of those with psychiatric illness the problems did not appear to have been detected or dealt with. It is suggested that medical clerking should routinely include questions about mood and psychological responses to illness.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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