Depressive disorder and its mental comorbidity in patients attending psychiatry OPD at Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur

Abstract

Background: Depression is one of the commonest mental health problem and its association with suicide as the most common etiology makes it a ruthless killer of all the psychiatric problems we fight with. Identification and management of co-morbid condition is important from the epidemiological and management point of view. Aim of this paper is to study about depression and its psychiatric co-morbidity in the subjects visiting to psychiatric care centre of Nepalgunj medical college.  

Methods: This was a descriptive study done in patients attending psychiatry OPD of Nepalgunj Medical College, Kohalpur, for six months, from the month of Baisakh to Ashwin 2069.  

Results: Out of the total 266 subjects (n=266), the most common age group was 21-30 years 98 (36.84%), followed by 11-20 years 67 (25.19%). Female was the dominant gender in both the age groups representing 71 and 47 respectively. The most common co-morbid diagnosis in depression was dissociation 54 (44.26%) followed by headache (27.05%). Other co-morbid diagnosis were; suicidal attempt (5.74%), alcohol use (4.1%) and others (18.85%)  

Conclusions: Depression is a common psychiatric entity with various psychiatric co-morbidities. The most common co-morbid diagnosis was dissociation, followed by headache.  

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jpan.v2i2.9720  

J Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal Vol.2, No.2, 2013 18-21