Liaison Psychiatry facilitates the management of medical-psychiatric comorbidities.

To describe the activity of the Liaison Service, Maggiore della Carità General Hospital, Novara, Italy, from February 2006 to December 2011.

To evaluate the referral rate among different wards.

Patients referred for psychiatric consultation were analysed by means of a logistic regression model.

1794 patients overall were involved. The referral rate was 1,60%, with a decrease in 2011. The highest frequency was in Radiotherapy and Hematology (14.71%). Reasons for consulting were: management problems (38%), assessment of a positive psychiatric history (37%), depression (32%), differential diagnosis between organic and psychiatric diseases (19%). Interventions for differential diagnosis and management problems significantly increased in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Radiotherapy and Haematology Wards were characterised by a higher referral rate for psychiatric history or depression (53%; 55%), Surgery showed fewer requests for depression (20%). The consultant suggested interviews or drug administration to 91% and 69% of patients respectively; interventions on the hospital staff and on the family in 34% and in 16% of cases. We observed an increase in interventions on hospital staff (49%) since 2006 and the use of interviews increased (96%) since 2010. Radiotherapy and Hematology were characterized by a greater use of interviews (95%), interventions on staff (43%) and family members (22%).

The referral rate is consistent with literature. Differences among Wards as far as the use of liaison psychiatry is concerned are discussed.