[The medical-psychiatric unit: added value for patients, physicians and hospitals].
Physical and mental illnesses commonly occur together. The quality of physical care in institutions for mental health in the Netherlands is not guaranteed. The cases of a 63-year-old woman with a schizoaffective disorder and diabetes mellitus who became delirious after surgery and a 76-year-old suicidal man with a psychotic disorder due to hydrocobalamine deficiency after major heart surgery show that the so-called medical-psychiatric unit, which is a part of the Psychiatric Department of a general hospital, may have several advantages in the treatment of combined physical and mental disorders. Both patients were admitted to such a unit. In this way, the internist of the first patient could continue to treat her and she could be treated with an infusion, urinary catheter and gastric intubation; in addition, laboratory investigations could be performed. The second patient, whose safety required primary attention, could also be treated for his somatic disorders and a delirium could be ruled out. His family was assisted in recovering from their traumatic life experience caused by his suicide attempt.
van Waarde
J A
JA
Afd. Psychiatrie, Ziekenhuis Rijnstate, Postbus 9555, 6800 TA Arnhem. jvanwaarde@alysis.nl
Richter
C
C
Müller
M E
ME
Verwey
B
B
D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy