title: The guideline "consultation psychiatry" of the Netherlands Psychiatric Association.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2008, the Netherlands Psychiatric Association authorized a guideline "consultation psychiatry."
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To set a standard for psychiatric consultations in nonpsychiatric settings. The main objective of the guideline is to answer three questions: Is psychiatric consultation effective and, if so, which forms are most effective? How should a psychiatric consultations be performed? What increases adherence to recommendations given by the consulting psychiatrist?
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic literature review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both in general practice and in hospital settings psychiatric consultation is effective. In primary care, the effectiveness of psychiatric consultation is almost exclusively studied in the setting of "collaborative care." Procedural guidance is given on how to perform a psychiatric consultation. In this guidance, psychiatric consultation is explicitly looked upon as a complex activity that requires a broad frame of reference and adequate medical and pharmacological expertise and experience and one that should be performed by doctors. Investing in a good relation with the general practitioner, and the use of a "consultation letter" increased efficacy in general practice. In the hospital setting, investing in liaison activities and an active psychiatric follow-up of consultations increased adherence to advice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychiatric consultations are effective and constitute a useful contribution to the patients' treatment. With setting a standard consultations will become more transparent and checkable. It is hoped that this will increase the quality of consultation psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. a.leentjens@np.unimaas.nl
authors.forename: Albert F G
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leentjens
authors.forename: Annette D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Boenink
authors.forename: Herman N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Sno
authors.forename: Rob J M
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Strack van Schijndel
authors.forename: Joyce J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Croonenborg
authors.forename: Jannes J E
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: van Everdingen
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van der Feltz-Cornelis
authors.forename: Niels C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: van der Laan
authors.forename: Harm
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Marwijk
authors.forename: Titus W D P
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: van Os
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D009426:Netherlands; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000379:methods*; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012955:Societies, Medical