title: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry-from theory to clinical practice: an observational study in a general hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate significant association between various clinical and extra-clinical factors brought out the activities of Consultation-Liaison Service.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from all psychiatric consultations for patients admitted to the Perugia General Hospital and carried out over a 1-year period (from July the 1st 2009 to June the 30th 2010) were collected by a structured clinical report including: socio-demographic features, features of referrals, features of back-referrals. T-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, χ(2)-test and Fischer's were statistically used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  1098 consultations were performed. The consultations carried out the Emergency Unit were excluded from the study. The type and the reasons for the referrals were discussed such as the ICD-10 diagnosis and the liaison interventions too. Significant associations emerged between gender and: social status and occupation (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 respectively). Clinical sector related with reason for referral (p < 0.01), type of consultation (p < 0.01), liaison investigations (p < 0.01) and long-term treatment plan after hospital discharge (p < 0.01). The ICD-10 psychiatric diagnosis (Schizophrenia, Affective Syndrome and Neurotic-StressSomatoform Syndrome) was associated with social status (p < 0.01), social condition (p < 0.01), consultation type (p < 0.01), advice (p < 0.01) and reason for consultation (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The need for better physical and psychological investigation is confirmed in order to promote not only disease remission but overall wellbeing.
authors.affiliation: Functional Homogeneous Area, Local Health Authority 3, Umbria, Italy. degiorgio.d@libero.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Giorgio
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. roberto.quartesan@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quartesan
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. sciarma@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sciarma
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. martinag.mg@libero.it.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giulietti
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. angelapiazzoli82@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piazzoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. laura@iku.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scarponi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. silvia.ferrari@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. lr.ferranti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferranti
authors.affiliation: Section of Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology and Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. patrizia.moretti@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. pisom@tiscalinet.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piselli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011570:Psychiatry; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology