Pattern of Neuropsychiatric Illnesses in Geriatric Population: An Outpatient Study Report

Authors

  • T.K. Aich Associate Professor and Head, Department of Psychiatry, BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur
  • S. Shah Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UCMS, Bhairahawa
  • S Subedi Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, UCMS, Bhairahawa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v4i1.16737

Keywords:

Geriatric Psychiatry, OPD Study, Nepal

Abstract

Introduction: Few studies are available till date on the pattern of neuro-psychiatric illnesses in geriatric population in Nepal.

Objective: The study was aimed to know the demographic and clinical profiles of geriatric outpatients in our neuropsychiatry OPD.

Method: This study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry, Universal College of Medical Sciences-Teaching Hospital (UCMS-TH), Bhairahawa, Nepal. We screened through our ‘OPD case registrar’, which maintains few demographic and clinical data of all the new and old cases registered daily in the OPD. Socio-demographic and clinical data of all the patients in the age of 60 years and above were noted in a data sheet specially designed for the present study. This is a retrospective study by chart review. Descriptive analysis of these data were undertaken by using simple frequency distribution.

Result: During the one year study period total number of new patients registered were 3711. Two-hundred and fifty-seven (6.9%) among them were in the geriatric age group (≥60 years age). Psychoses form the biggest diagnostic entity with 71 patients (27.6%) followed by Depression in 39 patients (15.2%), Chronic headache in 33 (12.8%), Alcohol Dependence Syndrome in 27 (10.5%), Anxiety disorders in 25 (9.7%) and Dementia in 23 (8.9%) elderly patients. We also recorded 11 patients (4.3%) with symptoms of Mania. ‘Psychosis’ and ‘Depression’, were more represented amongst female elderly while ‘Alcohol dependence’ and ‘Mania’ and were more frequently prevailed among male elderly patient population.

Conclusion: Present study is expected to add some more light on this sub-specialty in Psychiatry and hope to induce more interest among young researchers to carry our further research among geriatric psychiatric patients in Nepal.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
1142
PDF
734

Downloads

Published

2017-02-21

How to Cite

Aich, T., Shah, S., & Subedi, S. (2017). Pattern of Neuropsychiatric Illnesses in Geriatric Population: An Outpatient Study Report. Journal of Psychiatrists' Association of Nepal, 4(1), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v4i1.16737

Issue

Section

Original Articles