Abstract
This pilot study demonstrates the efficacy of a liaison psychiatric ward in a general hospital, managed by psychiatrists and staffed with internists, for treatment of patients with comorbid medical and psychiatric illnesses. Although there were just two attending psychiatrists and five beds available within the unit, 687 patients were admitted during a period of five years. Out of the entire patients, 74 percent of them were involuntarily admitted, while 80 percent of them were through emergency room. This unit proved to be able to shorten an overall length of stay by 13.0 days. With more acute medical care and shorter admissions, a liaison psychiatric ward should be able to treat any psychiatric patients with higher medical acuity with integrated cooperation from the emergency unit, medical services and community psychiatric facilities.
