Swenson J R, Perez E L
Psychiatr Hosp. 1986 Summer;17(3):121-5.
The opening of a geriatric assessment unit (GAU) in a large general hospital has affected the number of elderly patients referred for psychiatric consultation, the type of psychopathology seen, and the training provided for psychiatric residents and interns on the consultation-liaison service. To examine these changes, the six months prior to the opening of the GAU are compared to the six months immediately following its opening. The number of patients age 65 or older referred and diagnoses made by the consulting psychiatrists were studied. The opening of the GAU significantly increased the number of elderly patients referred for psychiatric consultation. It was found that the GAU offered unique advantages in the assessment and treatment of elderly patients with certain psychiatric problems, and the advantages and limitations of different facilities within the general hospital for the psychiatric assessment and treatment of elderly patients are discussed. A case is presented which illustrates the interplay between the consultation-liaison psychiatrist and the geriatric service in the management of an elderly patient referred for consultation. The experience of this hospital in providing psychogeriatric training for residents and interns on the psychiatric consultation service is reviewed.
一家大型综合医院开设老年评估单元（GAU）后，对转介进行精神科会诊的老年患者数量、所见到的精神病理学类型以及为精神科住院医师和实习医师提供的会诊联络服务培训产生了影响。为了研究这些变化，将GAU开设前的六个月与开设后的六个月进行了比较。研究了65岁及以上被转介患者的数量以及会诊精神科医生做出的诊断。GAU的开设显著增加了转介进行精神科会诊的老年患者数量。研究发现，GAU在评估和治疗患有某些精神问题的老年患者方面具有独特优势，并讨论了综合医院内不同设施在老年患者精神科评估和治疗方面的优势与局限性。文中呈现了一个案例，该案例说明了会诊联络精神科医生与老年服务部门在管理一名被转介会诊的老年患者时的相互作用。回顾了这家医院在为住院医师和实习医师提供精神科会诊服务中的老年精神病学培训方面的经验。
