Alcohol and medical practice - the role of the psychiatrist in instituting change.
The low rate of recognition of the causative role of alcohol in much illness, and the failure to respond to the clinical challenge of such an association by many doctors, is discussed. Documentation is provided by a study of computerised hospital records. It is suggested that psychiatrists could demonstrate that a professional stance towards alcohol is possible without compromising personal freedom, and that liaison psychiatry services could accept responsibility to improve management of these problems within general hospitals.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D001315:Australia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011570:Psychiatry