Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-20T23:00:47.087Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A study of general practitioner needs of a new child psychiatric service

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Neil Adamson  and
Deirdre Killelea
Neil Adamson
Affiliation:
Dept of Child Psychiatry, Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland
Deirdre Killelea
Affiliation:
Dept. of Child Psychiatry, Regional Hospital, Limerick, Ireland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objectives: General practitioners were surveyed by questionnaire for their opinions on their needs and usage of a new child psychiatric service in the Midwestern Health Board.

Methods: The questionnaire was returned by 72% of GPs. Their practices included inner city, new towns, country town, and rural communities.

Results: It was found that 160 children were awaiting referral to the new service of which the most prominent presenting problems were hyperactivity, learning difficulties, enuresis, poor parenting skills, dysfunctional families, anorexia/eating disorders and psychosomatic problems. Primary school children required more frequent referral than secondary school children. GPs appreciated telephone access to the psychiatrist and for the service to be available for emergencies. A few GPs requested discussion meetings following referral. Most GPs were satisfied with any member of the multi-disciplinary child psychiatric team assessing the children.

Conclusions: This study was a useful method of assessing the numbers and nature of problems which might present to a new child psychiatric service in order that staff and treatment programmes could be organised. Results suggest that further research is necessary.

Keywords

Child psychiatryGeneral practitioner referralsGeneral practitioners' expectanciesMidwestern region
Type
Audits
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 1996 , pp. 30 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Lynch, K, Fitzgerald, M, Fitzgerald, A. The prevalence of child psychiatric disorder on 10 and 11 year old boys in an urban area. In: Fitzgerald, M, editor. Irish Families Under Stress 1991: 1: 5–13.Google Scholar
2.Fitzgerald, M, Kinsella, A. Behavioural deviance in an Irish urban and rural town sample. In: Fitzgerald, M, editor. Irish Families Under Stress 1991: 1: 29–33.Google Scholar
3.Stone, D, Fitzgerald, M, Kinsella, A. A study of behavioural deviance and social difficulties in 11 and 12 year old school children. In: Fitzgerald, M, editors. Irish Families Under Stress 1991: 1: 53–9.Google Scholar
4.O'Connor, J, Ruddle, H, O'Gallagher, M. Cherished equally? Educational and behavioural adjustment of children: a study of schools in the Midwest region. 1988. Commissioned by Midwest Health Board.Google Scholar
5.Garralda, ME, Bailey, D. Child and family factors associated with referral to child psychiatrist. Br J Psychiatry 1988: 153: 81–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Chithiramohan, R, Ballard, C, Baxter, M, Jones, L, Handy, S, McGibben, L, Sheikh, A, Silveira, R. Factors influencing general practitioner referral to a child psychiatric service. Ir J Psychol Med 1993: 10 (3): 144–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Rawnsley, B, London, JB. Factors influencing the referral of patients to psychiatrists by general practitioners. Br J Prev Soc Med 1962: 16; 174–82.Google ScholarPubMed
8.Thompson, A, Place, M. What influences general practitioners' use of child psychiatry service? Psychiatric Bulletin 1995: 19: 10–12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Rutter, M. Isle of Wight studies, 1964-1974. Psychol Med 1976: 313–32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Rutter, M, Graham, P, Chadwick, O, Yule, W. Adolescent turmoil: fact or fiction? J Child Psychol Psychiatry 1976: 17: 35–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Richman, N, Stevenson, J, Graham, P. Prschool to school: behavioural study. Academic Press: London, 1982.Google Scholar