Survey of inpatients child and adolescent psychiatric referrals in a teaching hospital in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE: To answer the question of which specialties utilize the service of child and adolescent liaison psychiatry and what are the problems that are likely to bring a child or an adolescent to the attention of psychiatry.

METHODS: The case records of all inpatient children and adolescents younger than 18 years, who were referred to the psychiatric team at King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over a period of 6 years between July 1992 and July 1998, were retrospectively reviewed in regard to sociodemographic data, referring specialties and reason for referral.

RESULTS: Seven percent of referred patients were younger than 18 years. Most were Saudi nationals. Females outnumbered males. Most of the referrals were by the neurologists, endocrinologists and gastroenterologists. The most common reasons for referral were behavioral disturbances and absence of physical findings that could explain the complaint.

CONCLUSION: Low utilization of child and adolescent liaison psychiatry, reflecting the ability of pediatricians and physicians to recognize psychiatrically disturbed children and adolescents compared to adults, may explain the small number of referrals.