Referral of mentally handicapped patients to the psychiatrist: a community study.

In a retrospective study, 98 consecutive psychiatric referrals of mentally handicapped persons living in the community were examined. By far the commonest cause of referral was behaviour disturbance, followed by requests for disposal, placement or respite care. The referring agents were mostly general practitioners and social workers. Factors affecting the pattern of referral such as degree of mental retardation and life events are discussed.