Psychological illness in medical outpatients.

A survey of psychological illness in medical outpatients reveals an incidence of 27·4% which is close to that of previous studies. The bulk of the cases are anxiety states and reactive depressions, and the great majority respond well to drugs and simple psychotherapy. The most important aetiological factors are shown to be disturbances of interpersonal relationships within the family with alcoholism, financial difficulties, illness and bereavement being of special importance. The problem of minor psychological illness is discussed from the viewpoint of community medicine, as well as that of the medical, surgical and gynaecological clinic. A simple scheme for the management of the more difficult cases, in co-operation with a Medical Social Work Department, is presented and is shown to work successfully during busy outpatient clinics.