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A Comparison of Social Workers and Psychiatrists in Evaluating Parasuicide

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

J. G. B. Newson-Smith  and
S. R. Hirsch
J. G. B. Newson-Smith
Affiliation:
Charing Cross Hospital, London; now Senior Registrar, St George's Hospital, London SW17 0QT
S. R. Hirsch
Affiliation:
Charing Cross Hospital, London W6 8RF. Address for reprints and correspondence here
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Summary

Sixty parasuicide patients admitted to medical wards were assessed by social workers prior to routine psychiatric assessment. Both disciplines completed a rating schedule. The social workers' and psychiatrists' rating schedule responses were compared, and their decisions were examined against further information obtained by a research psychiatrist, which included standardized mental state assessment. Overall the results show that social workers can safely and reliably assess these patients, but they are more cautious. A management approach involving social workers as assessors of parasuicide patients is discussed.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 134 , Issue 4 , April 1979 , pp. 335 - 342
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1979 

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