[The present status of psychiatric consultation in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung: a report of clinical characteristics].

One hundred and sixty three inpatients (84 males and 79 females) were referred for psychiatric consultation through the year of 1994. The referal rate (0.71%) was considerably low when compared with the rates (0.72-2.05%) reported by other hospitals in Taiwan. Most of the referrals were the patients of internal medicine (64.78%), especially the nephrology department. And the most common psychiatric diagnoses were organic mental syndrome. The primary reason of referals was suicidal attempt (evaluation of suicidal risk) (33.14%). In a general hospital, psychoactive substance use disorders and induced mental disorders tended to be an most usual task of psychiatric consultation. The rate of execution of suggested medication was 72.68%. Most psychotic patients and nearly overall suicidal patients had higher rate of execution of pharmacotherapy. The rate of follow-up compliance was 39.58%. The development of consultation-liaison psychiatry is in the initial stage in our hospital. The results of our study could provide reference in clinical practice and stimulate further investigation.