Pattern of patients attending psychiatric OPD of a tertiary health care centre during the period of nationwide lockdown

Abstract

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic has emerged as health concern including the mental health of the society. Aim of the Study: The study aims to evaluate the patient pattern seeking help during this pandemic. Setting and Design: Cross sectional study with a purposive sampling. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven patients attending Psychiatry facility were assessed with ICD10, GAD-7 scale. Statistical analysis: SPSS-20 software was use. Categorical variables were described using frequency/percentage. Continuous variables are described using mean, SD, range. P value of 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Out of the total 47 patients, 27(57.4%) came with a first episode of psychiatric manifestation, whereas 20(42.6%) patients had previous episodes of psychiatric disease. 22(46.8%) patients presented with anxiety, 4(8.5%) with anxiety with predominant insomnia, 2(4.3%) presented with ATP, 1(2.1%) patient manifested with depression and 2(4.3%) patients came with dissociation disorder.Conclusion: The present study suggests that patients with both previous psychiatric illness or without any psychiatric are equally vulnerable for psychological reactions during this pandemic.