Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in Medical Inpatients

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in acutely ill medical inpatients. A total of 313 consecutively admitted patients were interviewed using a semistructured psychiatric interview. Diagnoses were made according to DSM-IV diagnostic criteria during two time periods, the 7 days following admission and the month prior to admission. The results showed that 85 patients (27.2%) received a DSM-IV diagnosis, with several patients having comorbid diagnoses. Major depressive disorder was present in 16 patients (5.1%), most of whom also had major depressive disorder in the month prior to admission. This prevalence rate is above that of the general population (1.2% to 2.8%), but less than that reported in most previous studies (20% to 40%). Forty-three patients (13.7%) had an adjustment disorder, 18 patients (5.8%) had an anxiety disorder, and 17 patients (5.4%) had either alcohol dependence or abuse. Nurses were more proficient than medical staff at identifying patients who had received a DSM-IV diagnosis, recognizing 61% of cases compared with 41% for medical staff.

A multicenter investigation of consultation-liaison psychiatry in Italy

“…For example, a primary diagnosis of mental and behavioral disorders due to the use of psychoactive substances (F10-19) was infrequent (7%) in this population compared with the 30% prevalence rate found by some authors [27,28], although it is comparable with the results obtained by others (e.g., 5.4%) [29]. This may be due to the fact that specific psychiatric services for individuals with these disorders were set up after the psychiatric reform in Italy and therefore such patients are usually referred to these services rather than to C-L.…”

Adjustment Disorder

“…Among specific medical groups, studies have demonstrated that AD was almost three times as common as major depression (13.7 versus 5.1%) in acutely ill medical inpatients 22 and was diagnosed in 35% of cancer patients experiencing a recurrence 23 . In obstetric/gynaecology consultation-liaison, 24 adjustment disorders predominated over mood disorders.…”

Prevention of Major Depression in Complex Medically Ill Patients: Preliminary Results From a Randomized, Controlled Trial

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Major depression is among the most frequently observed psychiatric comorbidities seen in medical patients, and its presence is specifically associated with poor outcomes. Major depression is highly prevalent in physically ill patients, 6 and it affects quality of life and course of the somatic illness.…”