Pattern of Inpatient Admission in Psychiatry Ward After Covid-19 Lockdown at a Tertiary Care Center of Assam

Abstract

Aim of the study:The aim is to review the admission pattern, demographic prole and clinical characteristics of the patients admitted in Psychiatry ward during the lockdown phase following Covid-19 pandemic. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was undertaken in the Department of Psychiatry, Gauhati Medical College th rd Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India for six months extending from 24 March 2020 to 23 September 2020. Data were collected retrospectively from case history sheet and a semi-structured proforma is used to collect the socio-demographic and clinical variables. Diagnosis was made using ICD-10. The analyses of data were done using descriptive statistics. Results:A total of 144 patients were admitted during the study period. Out of total admitted patients maximum were admitted on the third month and least in the month immediately following lockdown. Admission was more in young adults, men and in those from urban locality. More patients were diagnosed in the category F20-29 followed by F30-39, majority were admitted for relapse of previous symptoms and duration of hospital stay was less than 10days for half of the admitted patients. Conclusion:To tackle emergencies during a pandemic, the most crucial step is proper planning. Evaluation of data regarding inpatient admission in a psychiatry ward during pandemic will help in overcoming the discrepancies and guide in future planning for mental health care during any emergency situation.