Pattern And Prevalence Of Psychiatry Morbidity Among Subjects Attended Psychiatric Outpatient Department In A Tertiary Care Hospital In Northern Telangana

Abstract Background: Mental health problem is a major public health issue all over the world including India. In India, mental disorders are the leading contributors to significant morbidity and disability amongst those affected. With changing health patterns among Indians, mental behavior and substance use disorders are coming to the forefront in health care delivery systems. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the diagnostic pattern of psychiatric morbidity among the patients attending psychiatric outpatient department in a private medical college. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Psychiatry in Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences located at Karimnagar, Telangana, India. For this study, a total of 442 new subjects attending Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) from August 2020 to July 2021 were taken. All the information including longitudinal histories of patients was recorded in files and the diagnosis was made following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM 5). Socio-demographic parameters and family history of mental illness were collected from the record file of the individual patient. Results: In the present study, among the different age groups, the majority (28.05%) of the study subjects were of the age ranging from 21-30 years. The distribution according to gender was (62.89%) males and (37.10%) females. The majority of the study subjects belonged to the rural background (69.45%), educated up to 10th standard (28.73%), self-employed (29.86%), married (67.42%), belonged to Hindu religion (85.74%), and with a monthly family income of 5,000 to 10,000 (38.68%). The majority of the study subjects were diagnosed with Major depressive Disorders (28.05%), followed by anxiety disorders (17.87%) and Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders (16.96%). Conclusion: This study provides information about the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among patients attending outpatient department in a private medical hospital in Northern Telangana. It helps in assessing the pattern of psychiatric problems and taking necessary steps to plan for better management of mental health care in the near future.