Clinical practice issues in consultation-liaison psychiatry.
OBJECTIVE
To overview and highlight the issues currently challenging and confronting consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry and to present them for discussion in a wider forum.


METHODS
Following preliminary discussions, the authors (members of the New South Wales C-L Interest Group) undertook to selectively review a number of issues relevant to C-L psychiatry. A preliminary paper was prepared and then presented to the membership of the interest group. Feedback from this meeting was incorporated into the final version of the paper.


RESULTS
Issues selected as a nidus for further discussion include economic issues, changing models of C-L practice, service issues as well as ethical, issues. In addition, recognition of C-L psychiatry as a true subspeciality is foreshadowed.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper highlights some of the challenges for C-L psychiatry both now and in the future. Intuitive beliefs in our efficacy will not suffice in this era of economic rationalisation. Disciplined and focused research substantiating our value is imperative. Subspeciality recognition is likely to ensure uniformity of standards as well as providing the structure and direction required to consolidate C-L psychiatry's future.
Wright
M
M
Department of Liaison Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
Samuels
A
A
Streimer
J
J
D001315:Australia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000639:trends*; D013038:Specialization / Q000639:trends