The Distributional Changes in the First-Visit Psychiatric Child and Adolescent Outpatients at a University Hospital over a Ten-Year Period

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in child and adolescent outpatients at a university hospital in Daegu from 2004 to 2013. METHODS: The subjects were first-visit patients under 18 years old, who visited Dongsan Medical Center, Keimyung University, from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2013. Computerized medical records of 2,738 patients (male 1,906, female 832) were reviewed. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 2.3 1 in the period of study. The most prevalent age category was 7-9 years. The mean age was 10.12+/-4.68 years (9.84+/-4.59 years in males, 10.76+/-4.81 years in females). The ratio of child and adolescent patients to total outpatients was 27.0%. The most common diagnostic category was the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) group, followed by the mental retardation (MR) group. In males, the ADHD, MR, communication disorder groups were more prevalent, but in females, the MR, ADHD, depressive disorder groups were more prevalent. CONCLUSION: The female to male ratio and total mean age were on the rise. The ADHD group was the most prevalent and the depressive disorder group was also on the rise in this period.