Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-xfwgj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-21T21:59:02.972Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Variations in referral pattern to the psychiatric services by general practitioners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Norma C. Robertson*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Research Unit, Aberdeen
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Norma C. Robertson, Department of Mental Health Research Unit, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB9 2ZX.

Synopsis

Referral rates to psychiatric services in North-East Scotland by 147 individual urban and rural general practitioners were calculated. Among city doctors, the greater the number of years since qualification the more patients were referred. Single-handed city doctors also had very high referral rates. Subsequent interviews were conducted with 76 general practitioners. Topics covered included reasons for referral to psychiatric services. Psychotics, severely depressed patients, alcoholics and violent patients were the most frequently referred groups.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Anderson, D. (1972). Working with the family doctor: a programme for mental health. British Medical Journal iv, 781784.Google Scholar
Bahn, A. K., Chandler, C. A. & Eisenberg, L. (1961). Diagnostic and demographic characteristics of patients seen in out-patient psychiatric clinics for an entire state (Maryland): implications for the psychiatrist and the mental health programme planner. American Journal of Psychiatry 117, 769778.Google Scholar
Bain, S. (1974). A geographer's approach in the epidemiology of psychiatric disorder. Journal of Biosocial Science 6, 195220.Google Scholar
Baldwin, J. A., Innes, G., Millar, W. M., Sharp, G. A. & Dorricott, N. (1965). A psychiatric case register in NorthEast Scotland. British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine 19, 3842.Google Scholar
Gardiner, A. Q., Petersen, J. & Hall, D. J. (1974). A survey of general practitioners' referrals to a psychiatric outpatient service. British Journal of Psychiatry 124, 535541.Google Scholar
Gardner, E. A., Miles, H. C., Bahn, A. K. & Romano, J. (1963). All psychiatric experience in a community. Archives of General Psychiatry 9, 369378.Google Scholar
Grad, J. & Sainsbury, P. (1966). Evaluating the community psychiatric service in Chichester: results. Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly 44, 246278.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hall, D. J. & Hunter, D. (1970). North East Scottish Psychiatric Services Operational Tables for the Year 1970. Department of Mental Health: University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Hare, E. H. (1965). Triennial statistical report, Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, 1961–1963: London.Google Scholar
Hare, E. H. (1968). Triennial statistical report, Bethlem Royal Hospital and the Maudsley Hospital, 1964–1966: London.Google Scholar
Innes, G. & Sharp, G. A. (1962). A study of psychiatric patients in North-East Scotland. Journal of Mental Science 108, 447456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kaeser, A. C. & Cooper, B. (1971). The psychiatric patient, the general practitioner and the out-patient clinic: an operational study and a review. Psychological Medicine 1, 312325.Google Scholar
Kessel, W. I. N. (1960). Psychiatric morbidity in a London general practice. British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine 14, 1622.Google Scholar
May, A. R. & Gregory, E. (1968). Participation of general practitioners in community psychiatry. British Medical Journal, ii, 168171.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mowbray, R. M., Blain, W., Jubb, L. C. & Clark, A. (1961). The general practitioner's attitude to psychiatry. Scottish Medical Journal 6, 314321.Google Scholar
Rawnsley, K. & Loudon, J. B. (1962). Factors influencing the referral of patients to psychiatrists by general practitioners. British Journul of Preventive and Social Medicine 16, 174182.Google Scholar
Richardson, I. M. (1974). General practitioners and district nurses – a study of referrat patterns in the city of Aberdeen. British Journal of Preventive and Social Medicine 28, 187190.Google Scholar
Robertson, N. C. (1971). Some personal and social factors associated with marital adjustment. Ph.D. Thesis: University of Aberdeen.Google Scholar
Robertson, N. C. (1974). The incidence of referrals to the psychiatric services by individual general practitioners. In Psychiatric Case Registers, DHSS Statistical and Research Report Series no. 7, pp. 5052. HMSO: London.Google Scholar
Shepherd, M., Cooper, B., Brown, A. C. & Kalton, G. W. (1966). Psychiatric Illness in General Practice. Oxford University Press: London.Google Scholar
Walton, H. J. (1969). Effects of the doctor's personality on his style of practice. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 82, Supplement no. 3, 617.Google Scholar
Walton, H. J. (1969). Effects of the doctor's personality on his style of practice. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners 82, Supplement no. 3, 617.Google Scholar
Williams, P. & Wallace, B. B. (1974). General practitioners and psychiatrists – do they communicate? British Medical Journal i, 505507.CrossRefGoogle Scholar