The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CL Psychiatry) is not a well-established discipline in developing countries. It is a multifaceted area that incorporates clinical, teaching, and research activities both within the hospital and extramurally in community health services. Our purpose was first to defin...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2008-01-01
|
| Series: | The Scientific World Journal |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2008.74 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832556657212653568 |
|---|---|
| author | Hari D. Maharajh Petal Abdool Rehanna Mohammed-Emamdee |
| author_facet | Hari D. Maharajh Petal Abdool Rehanna Mohammed-Emamdee |
| author_sort | Hari D. Maharajh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CL Psychiatry) is not a well-established discipline in developing countries. It is a multifaceted area that incorporates clinical, teaching, and research activities both within the hospital and extramurally in community health services. Our purpose was first to define the role of CL Psychiatry, to review essential steps in the process, and to advise on how to set up services. Second, a 1-year retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients referred. A total of 708 persons were referred for psychiatric consultation, of which 41% (291) were referred because of suicidal behavior. Sixty-six percent were female and there was an over-representation of Indo-Trinidadians (67%). Twenty-six percent of all cases of suicidal behavior were diagnosed with clinical depression, 3% were suffering from a psychotic illness (schizophrenia), and 8% (24/291) were under the influence of alcohol. The most vulnerable group was the 25- to 35-year-old age group, accounting for 27% (78/291) of attempters, with the largest number of female attempters. The 36- to 55-year-old males were most likely to attempt suicide (35/99). Ingestion of a toxic substance was the most popular method among all races, genders, and age groups. Of all referrals, 95% originated from medical wards. The most common reason cited for attempts was depressed mood, secondary to a domestic dispute with a family member or significant other. Among Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago has high rates of suicide and suicidal behavior, depression, and alcoholism. CL psychiatrists have a major role to play in the delivery of services to these groups, facilitating the transition of care from admission in the emergency room to discharge and follow-up in the community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0842828d2b2c4e4d86b426fdfbcdf9e0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1537-744X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2008-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Scientific World Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-0842828d2b2c4e4d86b426fdfbcdf9e02025-02-03T05:44:43ZengWileyThe Scientific World Journal1537-744X2008-01-01892092810.1100/tsw.2008.74The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal BehaviorHari D. Maharajh0Petal Abdool1Rehanna Mohammed-Emamdee2University of West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and TobagoDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, CanadaPsychiatry Unit, San Fernando General Hospital, Trinidad and TobagoConsultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CL Psychiatry) is not a well-established discipline in developing countries. It is a multifaceted area that incorporates clinical, teaching, and research activities both within the hospital and extramurally in community health services. Our purpose was first to define the role of CL Psychiatry, to review essential steps in the process, and to advise on how to set up services. Second, a 1-year retrospective analysis was conducted on all patients referred. A total of 708 persons were referred for psychiatric consultation, of which 41% (291) were referred because of suicidal behavior. Sixty-six percent were female and there was an over-representation of Indo-Trinidadians (67%). Twenty-six percent of all cases of suicidal behavior were diagnosed with clinical depression, 3% were suffering from a psychotic illness (schizophrenia), and 8% (24/291) were under the influence of alcohol. The most vulnerable group was the 25- to 35-year-old age group, accounting for 27% (78/291) of attempters, with the largest number of female attempters. The 36- to 55-year-old males were most likely to attempt suicide (35/99). Ingestion of a toxic substance was the most popular method among all races, genders, and age groups. Of all referrals, 95% originated from medical wards. The most common reason cited for attempts was depressed mood, secondary to a domestic dispute with a family member or significant other. Among Caribbean countries, Trinidad and Tobago has high rates of suicide and suicidal behavior, depression, and alcoholism. CL psychiatrists have a major role to play in the delivery of services to these groups, facilitating the transition of care from admission in the emergency room to discharge and follow-up in the community.http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2008.74 |
| spellingShingle | Hari D. Maharajh Petal Abdool Rehanna Mohammed-Emamdee The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior The Scientific World Journal |
| title | The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior |
| title_full | The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior |
| title_fullStr | The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior |
| title_short | The Theory and Practice of Consultation-Liaison (CL) Psychiatry in Trinidad and Tobago with Reference to Suicidal Behavior |
| title_sort | theory and practice of consultation liaison cl psychiatry in trinidad and tobago with reference to suicidal behavior |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1100/tsw.2008.74 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT haridmaharajh thetheoryandpracticeofconsultationliaisonclpsychiatryintrinidadandtobagowithreferencetosuicidalbehavior AT petalabdool thetheoryandpracticeofconsultationliaisonclpsychiatryintrinidadandtobagowithreferencetosuicidalbehavior AT rehannamohammedemamdee thetheoryandpracticeofconsultationliaisonclpsychiatryintrinidadandtobagowithreferencetosuicidalbehavior AT haridmaharajh theoryandpracticeofconsultationliaisonclpsychiatryintrinidadandtobagowithreferencetosuicidalbehavior AT petalabdool theoryandpracticeofconsultationliaisonclpsychiatryintrinidadandtobagowithreferencetosuicidalbehavior AT rehannamohammedemamdee theoryandpracticeofconsultationliaisonclpsychiatryintrinidadandtobagowithreferencetosuicidalbehavior |