Liaison psychiatry and older adults

J. Seymour

Older Adults Mental Health Care Group, Michael Carlisle Centre, Nether Edge Hospital, 75 Osbourne Road, Sheffield S11 9BF, UK

EDITED BY STANLEY ZAMMIT

Lloyd & Mayou (2003) argue cogently for the development of liaison psychiatry, or ‘psychological medicine in general hospitals’ as they prefer it. Their arguments would carry more weight with commissioners if they included the mental health needs of older people. Two-thirds of general hospital beds are occupied by people aged over 65 and it is obvious to anyone visiting a general medical ward that the majority of ‘bed-blocking’ is caused by older people with dementia, depression and prolonged delirium. The epidemiology, together with demonstrably poor coordination of services, is highlighted in a recent report, partly commissioned by the Faculty of Old Age Psychiatry of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Holmes et al, 2002).

The time is now ripe for old age psychiatrists to take their multi-disciplinary skills and experience of community support into general hospitals to enable earlier discharge of so-called bed blockers. Liaison psychiatrists could develop their services (and sub-speciality status) more quickly and comprehensively if they worked more closely with old age psychiatry colleagues clinically, and within the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

REFERENCES

Holmes, J., Bentley, K. & Cameron, I. (2002) Between Two Stools: Psychiatric Services for Older People in General Hospitals. Leeds: University of Leeds Academic Unit of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences.

Lloyd, G. G. & Mayou, R. A. (2003) Liaison psychiatry or psychological medicine? British Journal of Psychiatry, 183, 5 –7.[Free Full Text]





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