Examination prior to referral. An experimental project in community psychiatric service in North Jutland
Nielsen, O.R.; Gade, I.J.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 149(8): 544-547
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 3824657 Document Number: 299208
During a test period of one year, 192 patients were investigated prior to referral to hospital. This corresponds to over half of the patients referred to a psychiatric department and resulted in a decrease in the number of whole day admissions to the department of 25%. An essential condition for this is the presence of alternative therapeutic methods, particularly offers of day-patient status or outpatient treatment. In addition, a qualified interdisciplinary team with psychotherapeutic qualifications and joint therapeutic philosophy is required. The psychiatric hospital as a system is interpreted as a critical and inhibiting factor for community psychiatric development if this is not supplemented by new resources.