Despite their importance, the nature and context of referral patterns among mental health disciplines in the general hospital has not been sufficiently explored. This study focuses on consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry patterns of referral to social work services (SWS). From a structured data base of 1170 consults, it was observed that C-L referred 24% of the cases seen by psychiatry. Psychiatry was more likely to refer those who are: female (p = less than 0.05), living with others (p = less than 0.05), described as less urgent (p = less than 0.05), diagnosed with personality disorders (p = less than 0.01), under greater psychosocial stress (Axis IV) (p = less than 0.001), and evaluated as having better functional status (Axis V) (p = less than 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that four variables had the greatest impact on differentiating those C-L referred to SWS from the "others": 1) constant observation recommended (log -586, p = 0.0001); 2) type of psychiatric management (log -573, p = 0.0001); 3) Medicaid insurance (log -564, p = 0.0001); and 4) original referral for the consultation was the refusal of tests or medical treatment (log -559, p = 0.002).