الفهرس 
INTRODUCTION AND AIM OF THE STUDYOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
convincing evidence that psychosocial factors have a major impact on both patient outcome and costs on the medical/surgical services of general hospitals. The coexistence of psychiatric and medical problems in a patient usually leads to more complex diagnostic assessments, increased health care costs and less satisfactory outcome than in those without comorbidity. Improved recognition of psychiatric disorders during hospital admission could result in better overall care of medical patients’ psychiatric and social difficulties and more effective use of medical resources. These realizations have led to a vigorous interest in the overlap between medical and psychiatric disorders, and, by extension, in consultation-liaison (C- L) psychiatry.
A number of studies have shown high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among medical and surgical inpatients. However, few inpatients with psychiatric morbidity receive psychiatric consultation. There is often reluctance on the part of non-psychiatric physicians to consult a psychiatrist.
Aim of the study
Measurement of prevalence of psychiatric problems reqUirIng psychiatric consultation among general medical and surgical inpatients and the ratio between number of patients having such problems and those referred to C-L psychiatry service.
2) Analysis of the consultation process and assessment of the role of C-L psychiatrists.
Components of the study:
The study was formed of two main parts:
A) Theoretical part:
A review of literature regarding the following subjects:
1) Psychiatric morbidity in medical and surgical inpatients: a) Patterns of association between physical and psychiatric disorders
b) Prevalence of psychiatric disorders in medical and surgical inpatients
c) Impact of psychiatric morbidity on non-psychiatric health service utilization and costs
d) Common psychiatric problems among medical and surgical inpatients; depression, anxiety, delirium, medically unexplained somatic symptoms, and attempted suicide
2) Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry:
a) Definition
b) Historical aspect
c) Inpatient consultation-liaison psychiatry: - Consultation requests.
- Role of consultation-liaison psychiatrists
d) Outpatient consultation-liaison psychiatry
e) Consultation-liaison psychiatry as a subspecialty
f) Outcome of consultation-liaison psychiatry’s activities
ID Practical part:
It was formed of two parts:
1. A cross-sectional study amung at measurement of prevalence of psychiatric problems requiring psychiatric consultation in general medical and surgical inpatients and fmding out the ratio between number of patients having such problems and those referred for psychiatric consultation.
2. A descriptive study of psychiatric consultation requests aiming at analysis of the consultation process and the role of C-L psychiatrists.