Publication: Study of Co-morbidities in Schizophrenia in Patients Admitted to aTertiary Care Centre: An Observational Study
Date
2026
Article Type
Original Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
eISSN: 3102-0194 pISSN: 3102-0186
Volume Title
Pages
Pages: 22 - 27
Publisher
Nepal APF Hospital
Abstract
Abstract:
Introduction: Patients with schizophrenia vary substantially relative to their symptoms, response to treatment, disease impact on function and biological correlates. Approximately 50% of patients with schizophrenia have at least one comorbid psychiatric or medical condition. This study was conducted to assess various psychiatric and medical comorbidities complicating the clinical picture of schizophrenia.
Methods: A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry of a medical college in Nepal from November 2018 to December 2019. All the admitted patients in Psychiatry Ward, 18 years and above with diagnosis of Schizophrenia were included. Patients admitted in intensive units and outpatient patient visits were excluded. Ethical approval was taken from Institutional Review Committee. A data collection tool which contained of semi-structured questionnaire was developed for data collection of clinical and demographic profile. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory Nepali version, Beck Depression Inventory II Nepali version and CAGE Questionnaire for assessing syndrome of Schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and use of alcohol. The collected data was entered in the Microsoft Excel and Descriptive statistics were used to summarize and present the data.
Results: Out of 60 patients, 55 (91.68%) and 37 (61.68%) had psychiatric and medical comorbidities respectively. Co-morbid psychiatric conditions such as substance use, anxiety and depression were found in 37 (61.68%), 35 (58.33%) and 30 (50%) of them. Sexual dysfunction and menstrual dysfunction were common co-morbidities followed by dyslipidaemia and electrolyte imbalance.
Conclusions: This study found the substantial burden of comorbid conditions in the patients with schizophrenia.
Description
Anugya Amatya
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kanti Children’s Hospital, Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Sudarshan Narsingh Pradhan
Department of Psychiatry, B & B Hospital, Gwarko, Lalitpur, Nepal.
Keywords
comorbidity, Nepal, schizophrenia
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.64772/mjapfn.2.2.78