Profile of Patients attending the Neuropsychiatric Specialty Clinic of a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital in North India: A Retrospective Chart Review

Abstract

Background:  Over past several decades various sub-specialities are developed in the field of mental health. Neuropsychiatry is a subspeciality of psychiatry that focuses on the mental health issues of patients that lie in the interface of neurology and psychiatry. Very few institutes in India, provide neuropsychiatric speciality care through the speciality clinics.

Aims & objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the profile of patients attending the neuropsychiatric speciality clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital in north India

Material & Method: This is a retrospective chart review of all registered patients attending the neuropsychiatric specialty clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital of north India. Clinical details of all the registered patients from the time of inception (January 2016) till December, 2020, were extracted and analysed after getting approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee.

Result: A total of 202 patients were recruited in the study, of which 53% were males and 47% were females with age ranging from 10 years to 76 years. In the year 2020, there was more than 50% drop in the new registrations due to COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown & closure of specialty clinic). Approximately, half of the patients had neurological co-morbidities, whereas nearly 1/4^th patients had no medical comorbidities. Average number of medications received at the time of initial consultation was 3.15 ± 2.09. Nearly, half of the patients had common mental disorders, whereas 1/5^th patients had severe mental disorder. History of seizure disorder, head injury and meningitis/encephalitis were present in 17%, 10% and 5% respectively. Faith healing was as common as 42% among the patients attending neuropsychiatry clinic. Tobacco use disorder is the most common comorbid substance use disorder followed by alcohol and cannabis.

Conclusion:  Neuropsychiatric conditions are seen in all ages, both genders. Neurological co-morbidities are the common co-morbidities and patients often receive polypharmacy. Common mental disorders are the most common presentation. History of seizure disorder, tobacco use disorder are common among neuropsychiatric patients.