Service utilization in a tertiary psychiatric care setting in South India.

Objective: To carry out an audit reviewing the utilization of psychiatric services and types of disorders presenting to a tertiary care psychiatry hospital in a developing Asian country.

Method: Consecutive adult patients who came for detailed consultation in 1 year were included in this study. A senior consultant psychiatrist reconfirmed the diagnosis in each patient who underwent detailed psychiatric evaluation. Psychiatric evaluation consists of clinical history from the patients and the relatives and a mental state examination. Data was obtained from the detailed work up evaluation psychiatry records of these patients.

Results: Mood disorder was the most common diagnosis followed by substance use disorders and psychotic disorders (ICD 10). There is a substantial delay of more than 2-5 years for seeking treatment in most disorders including schizophrenia. More than 80% of the population directly seeks treatment at this tertiary hospital. Sixty-four percent of the patients came for at least one follow up.

Conclusion: The result suggests the urgent need for strengthening community care in India and similar low and middle-income countries for early and optimal treatment.