Referrals by general practitioners to a primary health care psychiatric clinic : diagnostic status and sociodemographic characteristics

Abstract EN

This is a prospective study of new patients referred by general practitioners to a psychiatry clinic conducted within primary health care setting.

Ninety six new patients (41 males & 55 females) were studied.

Among the identified cases females were slightly more than males.

The maximum psychiatric morbidity occurred at the age group 15-44 years and dropped sharply after the age of 45.

Neurotic depression, anxiety state and anxiety-depressive state were the commonest identified psychiatric disorders (69%).

Neurotic depression occurred more among females, otherwise no notable diagnostic differences between the two sexes.

The results were compared with those of relevant local and international studies.