Paths to psychiatric care in Hong Kong.

The pattern of psychiatric consultation in Hong Kong is examined among 226 patients at a public outpatient clinic and 56 patients at a private psychiatric clinic. The approach to psychiatric services is marked by lengthy delay during which patients get help from their family members or close friends. Arrival at the present psychiatric clinic was diverted through other medical resources, primarily Western-style medical services, and to some extent, traditional Chinese medicine. Individual routes were diverse, characterized by frequent switches among resources especially in the private sector. The nature of the patients' presenting complaints as well as the conceptualization of their initial complaints were multi-faceted, including both psychological and somatic factors. The overall consultation pattern of patients in Hong Kong is compared with other studies on Chinese and Western patients. Questions are raised for further analysis.