Profile of Psychiatric Patients Visiting Outdoor Mental Health Services In Gujar Khan

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to explore the profile of psychiatric patients visiting private mental health service providers in hospitals and clinics of Gujar Khan, Pakistan. This cross-sectional research was conducted from 24 December, 2021 to 15 March, 2022. In total 369 psychiatric patients were approached in outdoor setting visiting Omer Clinic and Jinnah Hospital, Gujar Khan by purposive sampling technique. However, seven patients refused to participate. The final data were obtained from 362 patients (139 males & 161 females), with age range from 4 years to 85 years (M=33.37, SD=11.8). A profile questionnaire was constructed to collect the data, consisting of two parts: socio-demographic information and clinical information of the patients. In order to diagnose the patients, different diagnostic criterions based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-5 (DSM-5) was applied. Findings of the study indicated that majority of patients were suffering from Depressive Disorder (29%), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (18.8%) and Substance Abuse Disorder (10.8%). Follow-up neural network analysis showed that family system, number of siblings, and presenting complaints were the strongest predictors of psychiatric disorders in females as compared to males. Follow-up neural network analysis showed that family system, number of siblings, and presenting complaints were the strongest predictors of psychiatric disorders in females as compared to males. Conclusively, females have higher proportions of psychiatric disorders as compared to males. Major Depressive Disorder was most prevailing psychiatric disorder in clinical population with family dynamics playing crucial role in mental health of females. Implications for provision of mental health services at governmental level to cater rising depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in potohar region of Gujar Khan are discussed in the light of the findings of the study.