P-35 A description of the schizophrenic patients admitted to the Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation from 2019 to 2021.
Author(s):
E Nickram-Validum, J October
Year of Presentation:
2023
Objective: To describe newly diagnosed schizophrenic
patients at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporations’ Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic from 2019 to 2021.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving 3170 charts. 96 charts were identified for analysis. Variables were collected. Categorical tests for an association, such as the Chi square/Fisher’ s Exact test were used to infer relationships among patients presenting with schizophrenia.
Results: Over 3 years, 3% (67.7% males, 32.3% females) of admissions were diagnosed with schizophrenia. The incidence per year was: 2019 4.2%, 2020 2.5%, 2021 2.2%. 8% were married (19% females, 5% males). Median age of onset of: males 25, females 38 (p: 0.002). 52% were employed. 49% AfroGuyanese, 55% IndoGuyanese completed at least secondary education. 48% of males dropped out of secondary school. Families of origin supported 32% females, 62% males. 62.5% use substances, 36.6% were current multi drug users (31% males, 6.5% females).
Conclusion: Schizophrenia is not a frequent diagnosis at first consult. The incidence of the diagnosis per year was: 2019 4.2%, 2020 2.5%, and 2021 2.2%. Most schizophrenic patients were male and single, of no particular ethnicity. Females were more likely married. Men were a younger age at diagnosis than females. More than half of the patients were employed and had completed at least secondary school. Almost half of males dropped out of secondary school. Males were more likely than females to be supported by their family of origin. More than half of the patients presently used substances and many of these patients were multi-drug users.