Consultation-liaison psychiatrists management of depression.
Prospective data on 1,360 consecutive inpatients referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry service of 2 metropolitan general teaching hospitals and diagnoses as having a Depressive Illness Spectrum Disorder were collected by using the MICRO-CARES clinical database system. The distribution of DSM-III-R diagnoses was major depression (MD) 49%; dysthymia (DYS) 15%; organic or substance-induced mood disorder or depressive disorder not otherwise specified (ORG/NOS) 14%; and adjustment disorder with depressed mood (AD) 29%s. Antidepressants were prescribed in 59% of the MD cases, 40% of the DYS cases, 36% of the ORG/NOS cases, and 17% of the AD cases. In confirmed MD, antidepressants were prescribed in 69%, and significantly more often in those who were older, female, had a prior history of physical illness, had a neoplasm or a disorder of the nervous or musculoskeletal systems, had higher Axis IV scores, or were referred because of pain or terminal illness. The patients with confirmed MD prescribed antidepressants had a longer length of stay and were referred later than those not prescribed antidepressants. The results illustrate the importance of all the forms of depression in consultation-liaison psychiatry and the vigor with which all forms are treated.
Monash University, Department of Psychological Medicine, Melbourne, Australia.
G C
GC
Smith
D M
DM
Clarke
D
D
Handrinos
A
A
Dunsis
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012803:Sick Role
D000928:Antidepressive Agents