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Variations in referral pattern to the psychiatric services by general practitioners

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Norma C. Robertson*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health Research Unit, Aberdeen
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Norma C. Robertson, Department of Mental Health Research Unit, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen AB9 2ZX.

Synopsis

Referral rates to psychiatric services in North-East Scotland by 147 individual urban and rural general practitioners were calculated. Among city doctors, the greater the number of years since qualification the more patients were referred. Single-handed city doctors also had very high referral rates. Subsequent interviews were conducted with 76 general practitioners. Topics covered included reasons for referral to psychiatric services. Psychotics, severely depressed patients, alcoholics and violent patients were the most frequently referred groups.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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