HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS British Journal of Psychiatry Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nirodi, P. Articles by Mindham, R. H. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Nirodi, P. Articles by Mindham, R. H. S.

Survey of expert second opinions in a tertiary psychiatric out-patient clinic in the Yorkshire region between 1988 and 2000

^*Pratibha Nirodi Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry. Alex J. Mitchell Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Richard H. S. Mindham Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, University of Leeds, Briary Unit, Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, Harrogate HG2 7SX, UK

Correspondence: E-mail: pratibha.nirodi{at}chrd-pct.nhs.uk

AIMS AND METHOD

A medical second opinion is an expert clinical case evaluation requested by a colleague for a patient already under specialist care.There is no literature on the provision for second opinions in psychiatric practice other than those relating to the Mental Health Act 1983, and the availability of clinics offering second opinions varies greatly from one area to another.We undertook a survey of an expert second opinion service in Leeds over the period 1988-2000 and examined the case notes of 103 referred patients, of whom 71 were included in the analysis data.

RESULTS

In the majority of cases diagnoses were not changed, but alternative treatment strategies were suggested. The exception was for patients with a diagnosis of personality disorder, in whom neither a new diagnosis nor alternative management was commonly suggested. Half of the assessments were completed in a single visit, but a substantial minority required further evaluation as outpatients, close follow-up or even hospital admission for detailed review.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

We believe that a second opinion service offers clinicians valuable support and expertise, especially in sector psychiatry. Evidence presented suggests that further therapeutic options are available for many patients regarded as ‘difficult to treat’. In some cases this may involve a period of observation free of all psychotropic medication. As in other specialities, psychiatrists should be aware of the value of further advice for patients with particularly refractory or unusual disorders.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. J. Mitchell and N. Agrawal Training in neuropsychiatry: is it time to reintegrate into mainstream psychiatry? Psychiatr. Bull., October 1, 2005; 29(10): 361 - 364. [Full Text] [PDF]