Borderlands between Neurology and Psychiatry: Observations in a Neurological Hospital

This article describes psychiatric liaison, in its clinical and teaching aspects, at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Referral patterns are illustrated by data on 200 neurological and neurosurgical patients referred for psychiatric consultation. Our total patient material of nearly 1000 such patients seen in consultation and a joint weekly teaching session provide the basis for comprehensive discussion of the borderlands between neurology and psychiatry. It is concluded that close collaboration between these two disciplines is advantageous to both, in terms of improved clinical training of residents, identification of promising areas for interdisciplinary research, and better overall patient care. These gains justify the development of such liaison in other centers.