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Clinical Laboratory Abnormalities and their Follow-up in a Mental Hygiene Clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Leo Shatin
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital Services, Department of Psychiatry, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, New York, 11373
Pavlos Kymissis
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital Services, Department of Psychiatry, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, New York, 11373
William Brown
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital Services, Department of Psychiatry, City Hospital Center at Elmhurst, 79-01 Broadway, Elmhurst, New York, 11373

Summary

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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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