About 30% of medical and surgical inpatients are 65 years old or older,
and the latter account for about 30% of referrals for psychiatric
consultation. Delirium, dementia, and depressive and anxiety disorders are
prevalent in these patients, and liaison psychiatrists are forced to
function as (untrained) geropsychiatrists. The author proposes that liaison
psychiatrists take over the role of geropsychiatric consultants to elderly
medical and surgical inpatients and that fellowships in
geropsychiatry-liaison psychiatry be funded to provide appropriate
training. Integration of liaison psychiatry and geropsychiatry in general
hospitals would provide needed service for the elderly and enhance the
stature of liaison psychiatry.
Abstract Teaser