Psychiatric admissions to a general hospital II an epidemiological study

ABSTRACT

During 1982, 1.1/1000 of the health insured population in Alexandria were hospitalized for mental disorders. The rate of hospitalization was significantly higher for males. Schizophrenia was the main diagnosis accounting for 34.3% of cases; collectively psychoses accounted for 50.6% of cases and neurotic disorders for 21.3%. The mean age was highest for cases of organic psychosis [43.7 years] followed by affective psychosis [32.0 years] and epilepsy [32.6 years]. A positive family history for mental disturbances was greatest among psychotics [18.8%] and least among neurotics [7.8%]. Concerning stresses which may be a precipitating cause for psychiatric disturbances, those having personality disorders and addicts complained of work troubles [47.1%] and financial troubles [15.7%] more than other patients, while neurotics complained of family troubles [37.5%] more than others. Drug and alcohol dependence was greatest among those having personality disorders