Who treats in-patients with a primary psychiatric diagnosis?
Data are presented concerning all patients with a primary psychiatric diagnosis who were admitted to various hospitals in Western Australia during 1976-1978. Data were analysed, first, to ascertain the relative proportion of these patients who were admitted under psychiatrists and non-psychiatrists respectively; second, to compare the diagnoses of patients admitted under psychiatrists with those admitted under non-psychiatrists, and, third, to ascertain if there were any differences in terms of the first two measures between city and country patients. A high proportion of patients were admitted under non-psychiatrists. The majority of patients with a diagnosis of alcoholism, and a high proportion of patients with a diagnosis of neurosis, were admitted under non-psychiatrists. The majority of patients with a diagnosis of functional psychosis were admitted, under psychiatrists, to Mental Health Services hospitals and to psychiatric units at general teaching hospitals. Psychiatrists in pr
