title: Nonattendance at a general hospital psychological clinic in South Africa.
abstract: Over a 10-yr. period 11.6% of the 3738 patients referred to a general hospital's psychological clinic in South Africa did not attend their first appointments. Patients who had engaged in suicidal behaviours and those with somatoform symptoms were the predominant nonattenders, while those with depressive symptoms had the lowest nonattendance rate.
authors.affiliation: Natal University Medical School, South Africa.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Van Der Veen
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Guilfoyle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology