title: Patterns of referral to child psychiatry in Hong Kong.
abstract: The referral pattern by three major sources to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit of a university teaching hospital in Hong Kong is reviewed. In a health care system where primary health care is not properly developed, referral of children with psychiatric problems relies heavily on secondary health care professionals. Over a three year period, 37.8% of the new cases were referred by the other departments of the same hospital, while the Education Department and general practitioners each referred 17.4%. Overall, up to 80% of these children had definite psychiatric problems. Because the morbidities of these children often traverse physical, psychological, social, and educational dimensions, a close liaison with all the different professionals involved is vital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002665:Child Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*