Use of a routine outcome measure in a consultation-liaison mental health service.
OBJECTIVE
The problem severity of patients seen by a psychiatric consultation- liaison service was studied through the use of a routine outcome measure.


METHODS
Ratings on the Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS) over nearly 3 years in the emergency department, general hospital, and on admission to the acute psychiatric unit were compared.


RESULTS
Mean HoNOS total scores in the emergency department were not significantly different from those at admission to the acute psychiatric unit, but were significantly higher than those in the general hospital. Mean scores in all three settings were higher than those obtained at case review of psychiatric patients in the community. Despite differences in age, sex, and psychiatric diagnosis between the three hospital settings, differences in mean HoNOS total scores remained substantially unchanged after adjustment for these factors. Most HoNOS assessments were performed by medical staff.


CONCLUSIONS
The suspected high levels of problem severity and comorbidity of patients seen by a psychiatric consultation-liaison service were confirmed through the use of a routine outcome measure.
Trauer
Tom
T
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Tom.Trauer@med.monash.edu.au
D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014739:Victoria