Retrospective evaluation of psychiatry consultations requested from inpatients at a training and research hospital

Aims: This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate psychiatric consultations requested for inpatients at a training and research hospital and to examine their clinical and demographic characteristics. Methods: This retrospective, descriptive, and cross-sectional study included a total of 497 inpatients aged 18 and over who received psychiatric consultation between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Data were obtained from the hospital record system and patient files. The patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, reasons for requesting consultation, the clinics requesting the consultation, and their psychiatric diagnoses were evaluated. Diagnoses were made through clinical interviews. Results: The mean age of the patients was 62.4±18.1 years, and 50.1% were female. The most frequent reasons for requesting consultation were psychiatric medication adjustment (25.2%), agitation (19.5%), and depressive symptoms (14.7%). Consultations were most frequently requested from internal medicine departments (39.0%), followed by surgical departments (27.6%), intensive care unit (16.7%), and palliative care unit (16.7%). The most common diagnostic group was anxiety disorders and depressive disorders (45.7%), followed by those without a psychiatric diagnosis (21.9%), delirium (15.9%), and sleep disorders (11.3%). The fact that the number of consultations requested due to anxiety and depressive symptoms is lower than the number of patients diagnosed with these conditions suggests that these disorders are often reflected in clinical settings through indirect symptoms. Conclusion: In inpatient settings, psychiatric consultations contribute not only to diagnosis but also to treatment planning and clinical management processes. Early recognition of psychiatric symptoms and effective use of consultation processes can improve the quality of patient care.