Socio-Demographic and Diagnostic Profile Of Patients Attending Psychiatric Out-Patient Clinic

Abstract

Introduction: Mental disorder is a common problem in our community. One in every eight person has some mental disorder as per World Health Organization. We studied the patient population visiting the psychiatry OPD in a tertiary care center in central Nepal to know about the gravity of the mental disorders, which, though, not the true reflection at the community level, gives a snapshot of what is essential for formulating a roadmap for addressing these issues.

Method: It is a hospital-based retrospective study. Patients were enrolled from the record maintained by the psychiatrists in OPD settings. Ethical clearance was taken from Institutional Research Board, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital. Patients’ demographics, psychiatric illnesses, associated co-morbidities and suicidal attempts were analyzed using SPSS version 23.

Result: Out of 5048 patients enrolled in the study, 50.5% were males and the mean age was 41.39 + 16.6 years. In both sexes, most of the patients were in the age-group 30 – 50 years. First four most common illnesses observed were depressive illness (21.5%), anxiety disorders (14.9%), Alcohol related disorders (9.3%) and unspecified non organic psychosis (6.5%). Depressive illness, adjustment disorders, somatoform disorders and unspecified non organic psychosis were more common in females. Mixed anxiety depression was common in age group 30-50 years with similar distribution in males and females. Anxiety disorders, alcohol dependence, multiple substance abuse, bipolar disorders, primary insomnia, and benzodiazepine dependence were common in males. Multiple co-morbidities were more frequent in elderly population above 70 years. Hypertension showed preponderance in male population in age group 50-70 years. 1.4% of the patients had suicidal attempt.

Conclusion: Depressive illness, anxiety disorder and alcohol related disorders are common mental illnesses in psychiatry OPD setting in a tertiary level hospital. Hypertension followed by diabetes mellitus is the most common co-morbidity. Multiple co-morbidities were common among elderly population above 70 years.