OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to propose a structured model for the consultation-liaison psychiatry written report in general hospitals and discuss its fundamental aspects. METHODS: The literature on this subject was reviewed through a systematic search at the PubMed/Medline and PsycINFO databases. Moreover, all the articles on consultation-liaison psychiatry published at Jornal Brasileiro de Psiquiatria (indexed at the PsycINFO) on the last ten years were analyzed to find the Brazilian contributions on this field. We selected the articles, which described structured models for the consultation-liaison psychiatry written report. Those articles were used as a basis for the development of a psychiatric expert report to be used in consultation-liaison settings. RESULTS: We found two articles on consultation-liaison psychiatry written report models. Five other articles which described problems presented by consultation-liaison psychiatry reports were used to gather data on issues that should be evaluated on the written reports. The consultation-liaison psychiatry written report models were analyzed and we developed a new written report model. CONCLUSION: Consultation-liaison psychiatry written reports are documents which fulfill medical and educational purposes at a general hospital. The development of a structured model for these reports might avoid lack of relevant data and improve doctor-to-doctor communication.
consultation-liaison psychiatry; general hospital psychiatric unit; written communication
