CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS ATTENDING A PSYCHIATRY OPD CLINIC AT A TERTIARY CARE SETTING OVER A PERIOD OF 6 MONTHS

Background: Psychiatric disorder is one of the major public health problems. According to World Health Organization study group at least 450 million people in the world suffer from severe forms of mental disorder such as schizophrenia and depression. Objective: To assess the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in a tertiary teaching hospital of India. Methodology: The cross sectional study of six months duration was performed in population suffering psychiatric illness, to assess the prevalence rate. Results: A total of 90 patients participated in the study; demographic particulars were assessed in relation to age and gender. 40% of study participants are under age group of 18-28 years, that too prevalence was higher in male gender (64.44%). The overall prevalence of psychiatric illness was found to be 0.9% and 92.22% were outpatients, the most common prevalence was found in psychosis (0.6), schizophrenia (0.2) and depression (0.1) respectively. Conclusion: The study observed a fewer prevalence of psychiatric disorder in the psychiatry department of tertiary healthcare settings and the lower rate of prevalence merits further study.