Cross-sectional study of the psychiatric outpatient clinic at baghdad university hospital in the year 2003

Abstract AR

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to examine the characteristics and the numbers of psychiatry patients attending the outpatient clinic at a Baghdad teaching hospital over the year 2003 in order to assess the impact of the war on the clinic.

Methods: Patient records for the calendar year 2003 were analyzed according to the following variables: age, sex, type of mental disorder, and months of attendance.

Results: Adults 20-49 years of age constituted the highest proportion of the study sample (74.7%).

Males constituted a slightly higher proportion than females (55.3% vs.

44.7%).

Depression (33.4%), anxiety (22.2) and schizophrenia (13.3%) were the most frequently diagnosed illnesses accounting for more than two thirds of the total cases.

March (a pre-war month) and June (post war) were associated with the highest clinic attendance.

Conclusion: Neurotic complaints were much more frequent than psychotic diagnoses, and this finding held true regardless of age and gender differences.

The majority of patients were adults with no obvious sex predilection.

Seasonal fluctuations were random with an obvious increase in clinic attendance before and immediately after the war.