General principles in child liaison consultation service: a literature review.

Consultation-liaison psychiatry emerged in the late thirties as a bridge between body and mind splitting of medical care. Setting-up of consultation-liaison services in general hospitals began some years later and is still developing in many countries. Paediatric consultation-liaison services share some general characteristics with those for adults, but others are more specific. Different models of child consultation-liaison services have been described, such as their organization in relation to the specific characteristics of the ward (surgical, intensive care units, etc.) and to the resources provided. This paper describes the general basis of the organization of a child consultation-liaison service. The specific characteristics needed for working with children are emphasized.