Psychosomatics 1997; 38:262-268
Copyright © 1997 by Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH REPORTS |
Past mental health or substance use treatment history and psychiatric differential diagnosis in consultation-liaison patients
JR Rundell and RC Hall
Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4799, USA.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether frequencies of any
current primary or secondary (organic) psychiatric diagnoses in
consultation-liaison (C-L) patients are associated with patient report of
past history of mental health or substance use disorder treatment. Clinical
information recorded in 134 C-L patients was retrospectively analyzed with
the chi-square test, two-tailed, or Fisher's Exact Test when the sample
sizes were < or = 5. The results revealed that the overall likelihood of
the existence of a secondary psychiatric disorder diagnosis is elevated
when there is no treatment history (P = 0.009). A primary psychiatric
disorder is more likely to be diagnosed when there is treatment history (P
= 0.009). Specific psychiatric diagnoses more likely to be present when
there is no treatment history are organic mood disorder, depressed (P =
0.020) and adjustment disorder (P = 0.010). Specific diagnoses more likely
to be present when there is treatment history are psychoactive
substance-withdrawal syndrome (P = 0.014) and alcohol abuse or dependence
(P = 0.028). The authors conclude that psychiatric treatment history can
help C-L psychiatrists with differential diagnostic considerations.
