CLINICAL AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF PATIENTS PRESENTING TO CONSULTATION LIAISON PSYCHIATRY CARE IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH KASHMIR

Background: Consultation-liaison psychiatry is a sub specialty of Psychiatry that involves the study, practice and teaching of the relation between medical and psychiatric disorders. There is relatively insufficient data that studies the profile of consultation-liaison psychiatry across developing nations. Aims:To study the clinical and sociodemographic profile of patients presenting to consultation-liaison psychiatry care in a tertiary care hospital in south Kashmir. Materials & Methods:The present study included all the patients who were referred to Psychiatric department ,both inpatients as well as outpatients ,over a period of one year from January 2020 to December 2020.Data was collected using a semi structured pro forma and diagnosis was made using ICD-10 diagnostic criteria. Results:600 patients were included in our study, 332 of whom were females. Majority of patients belonged to age group of 21-40 and were residents of urban areas. The most common source of referrals included Cardiology followed by General Medicine. Depressive symptoms followed by suicidal attempts formed the majority of reasons for referral. The most common diagnosis established was Major Depression followed by Substance Use disorders. Conclusion: C L Psychiatry plays a significant role in bridging the gap between physical and mental illness and is vital for providing an integrated health service to the patients.