Profiles of inpatient psychiatry referrals: a 4-year analysis in a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry service

Background: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry (CLP) services are essential for addressing the psychiatric needs of patients with complex medical conditions in general hospitals. Aims: The study aims to characterize profiles of inpatient psychiatry referrals and describe referral patterns and evaluate temporal trends between referrals, patient demographics, and psychiatric and somatic diagnoses. Method: Data from January 2020 to December 2023 were collected from a CLP service during and after the pandemic, using psychiatric diagnoses from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Statistical analyses, including interrupted time series analysis with four periods, and including linear and segmented analyses, plus selective use of autocorrelation tests, were conducted to examine referral patterns and their associations with socio-demographic factors. Results: 6,105 patients were referred to the CLP Service during the study period, which was 6.73% of all hospital admissions. Internal medicine and Pneumology exhibited consistently high referrals, while services like Rheumatology and Endocrinology had lower rates. Common somatic diagnoses included neoplasms (20.7%) and respiratory diseases (9.4%), while neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders were prevalent psychiatric diagnoses (42.5%). Interrupted time series analysis revealed fluctuations in monthly care visits, with notable decreases coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusions: Our study elucidated the characteristics of patients receiving CLP services at a major Peruvian general hospital, revealing depression as a prevalent reason for consultation, and highlighting the dynamic nature of psychiatric care delivery, especially amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical trials registration numbers: Not applicable.