The British Journal of Psychiatry 133: 150-155 (1978)
© 1978 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Clinical laboratory abnormalities and their follow-up in a mental hygiene clinic
L Shatin, P Kymissis and W Brown
In a retrospective study, there were clearly abnormal laboratory findings
in 4.8 per cent of 4,994 adults who attended for psychiatric evaluation at
a mental hygiene clinic. In particular high fasting blood sugars, abnormal
blood counts, eosinophilia, VDRL and abnormalities of chest X-ray or
urinalysis were found. Just under half of these abnormalities led to
further medical follow-up. Old and young, schizophrenic and neurotic were
equally likely to be followed up, but tests which were clinically not
alarming might be ignored. The implications are discussed.