The impact of a child psychiatry liaison service on patterns of referral.
A retrospective study of referrals to a child psychiatry liaison service was carried out in order to assess the impact of the reorganisation of the service. A total of 55% of referrals were of in-patients on the paediatric ward; other in-patients made up 12.5%. Of all referrals, 67% were from paediatricians. Of the children who had not harmed themselves, most were referred either for help with the management of physical illness or for investigation of a non-organic physical complaint. The main finding was that liaison referrals increased significantly in contrast to both the total number of referrals and the number of cases of deliberate self-harm.
McFadyen
A
A
Child and Family Department, Tavistock Clinic, London.
Broster
G
G
Black
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*