Role of consultation-liaison psychiatry toward shortening of length of stay for medically ill patients with depression

Depression in physically ill patients is often encountered in consultation-liaison psychiatry. First, this investigation examined the relationship between length of stay (LOS) and depression comorbidity. Physically ill patients with depression stayed significantly longer than those without. Second, the change of LOS with and without antidepressant treatment for depression in medically ill patients has been investigated, which showed that LOS in physically ill patients with depression could be shortened by effective antidepressant treatment. This study also revealed that the early detection and antidepressant treatment are important for physically ill patients with depression that could lead to the shortening of LOS.