Are psychiatric consultants' recommendations followed?

The extent of adherence to psychiatric consultants' recommendations was calculated through a review of charts. All charts of patients seen in Psychiatric consultation from May 1976 to April 1977 were reviewed and a total of 273 charts contained scoreable consultant recommendations. Recommendations were scored as either actively followed, passively followed or not followed. Results are reported for the extent of adherence 1) between different types of recommendations (medications, disposition, etc.), 2) between medical, surgical and obstetrical-gynecological services and 3) between consultants, two psychiatrists and one psychologist. The results suggest that recommendations more likely to be followed are those easily performed by a consultee and leading to direct, tangible results. Adherence to consultants' recommendations is discussed in the context of resistance to psychiatric consultation.