Publication: Psychiatric Illness in the Paediatric Population Presenting to a Psychiatry Clinic in a Tertiary Care Centre
Date
2010
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
A variety of psychiatric manifestations can be seen in children below the age of 18
years. Such cases rarely present directly to psychiatric care.
Methods
Retrospective study in Tertiary care hospital . The study population included all the
patients of paediatric age group presenting to Psychiatry Outpatient Department
of Dhulikhel Hospital directly or referred by a paediatrician or other specialists from
October 2008 to October 2010.
Results
Among the paediatric population evaluated in the psychiatry clinic for two years from
October 2008 to October 2010 (N=168), 66.7% were in the age group 15-18 years
{mean = 14.77 (±2.99)}, 71.4% were female and 42.3% belonged to Brahmin cast.
The highest number of (15%) patients was seen during the month of August 2010.
Six months analysis of the psychiatric illnesses of the patients from April 2010 up to
October 2010 (n=80) showed dissociative disorder (15%), and seizure disorder (15%)
to be the most common diagnoses, followed by depressive disorder and intentional self
harm (ISH) (13.8% each). 15% of patients were found to be treated by magico-religious
means, with the majority of patients (66.7%) diagnosed as having dissociative disorder.
Conclusion
The majority of the paediatric population presenting to a psychiatry clinic were in the
age group 15-18 years and of female sex. Dissociative disorder was the most common
diagnosis followed by depressive disorders. The majority of patients with dissociative
disorder had previously been treated by magico-religious means.
Key Words
dissociative disorder, paediatric population, psychiatric profile
Description
Risal A1, Sharma PP2
1-2Department of Psychiatry, Dhulikhel Hospital - Kathmandu University Hospital Dhulikhel, Nepal