Indian J. Psychiat. (1984), 26(3) , 264—273 LIAISON PSYCHIATRY IN GENERAL HOSPITALS

Rap id growth of general hospital psychiatr ic units all over the world has piovided impetus to consultation-liaison work ca r r ied out by the psychiatrists in the non-psychiatr ic depar tments of gene-ral hospitals. Liaison psychiatry has acquired the status of a subspeciality within psychiatry and its development has paral le led the shift of psychiatry from men ta l hospitals to general hospital setting. This has resulte J in closei links between physical and psychological medi-cine and provides oppor tuni ty to the psychiatrists to be directly involved in the care of the physically ill. T h e are