Journal of Psychiatry

Abstract

Medical Illnesses among Chronic Psychiatric Inpatients in Taif Mental Hospital, Taif, Saudi Arabia

Jaber Sharaheeli and Randa Nooh

Background/Introduction: Chronic psychiatric inpatients are prone to various medical illnesses because there multiple risk factors to develop such illnesses. Diabetes mellitus, heart diseases and hypertension have particular significance.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the pattern of medical illnesses namely diabetes mellitus, heart diseases and hypertension among chronic psychiatric inpatients.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted. This study collected data through a retrospective chart review. Epi-Info was used for data entry and analysis.
Results: We analyzed 465 permanent (no plan for future discharge) psychiatric inpatients, 76.8% males, 89.2% of all patients fell within one age group of 41-50 years. 72.5% schizophrenics, 20.2% mentally retarded and 7.3% other psychiatric diagnoses. 30.1% had at least one associated medical comorbidity while Schizophrenia has the highest comorbidity (82.9%). The pattern of comorbidities among the population of psychiatric inpatients was: heart diseases (49.3%), hypertension (25%), and diabetes mellitus (25.7%).
Conclusion: Medical comorbidity was present among psychiatric inpatients in Taif mental hospital mainly in schizophrenics. Heart diseases are the commonest.