Patterns of psychiatric morbidity in patients attendingpsychiatric OPD of Government Medical College Anantnag
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54646/ijmhns.2025.01Keywords:
Psychiatric morbidity, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety, Kashmir, DSM-5, sociodemographic factorsAbstract
Background: Psychiatric morbidity is a significant public health concern globally, with disparities in access and awareness exacerbating the burden in resource-limited settings like Kashmir. The region’s socio-political instability and cultural factors have compounded mental health issues, necessitating region-specific studies to assess psychiatric patterns.
Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and patterns of psychiatric disorders among patients attending the Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) at Government Medical College, Anantnag, Kashmir, and identify sociodemographic associations.
Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted over six months, enrolling 933 patients aged =12 years using consecutive sampling. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected through structured proformas and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Statistical analyses, including descriptive and inferential tests, were performed using SPSS Version 20.0.
Results: Of the 933 participants (mean age 32.9 years, 61.3% females), major depressive disorder (23.7%) was the most prevalent diagnosis, followed by obsessive-compulsive disorder (19.3%) and bipolar affective disorder (10.5%). Anxiety disorders collectively accounted for 8.7%, while schizophrenia and PTSD had lower prevalence rates (2.6% and 0.8%, respectively). Females were disproportionately affected by OCD (19.9%) and major depressive episodes (15.4%). Panic disorders and dementia were more common among males. Younger participants predominantly presented with anxiety-related disorders, while older individuals exhibited higher rates of dementia and cognitive impairments. Homemakers (37.9%) and students (30.3%) formed the largest occupational groups.
Conclusion: The study highlights a high burden of depressive and anxiety disorders in Kashmir, influenced by gender, age, and sociocultural factors. Females exhibited higher rates of affective disorders, while younger individuals reported anxiety-related conditions. These findings underscore the need for gender- and agespecific mental health interventions and culturally sensitive policies to address the unique challenges faced by Kashmir’s population.
Published
Issue
Section
License
© 2025 Nadeem Bashir, Syed Zuhare, Mansoor Ahmad Dar, Javed Ahmad Sheikh, Rehana Amin, Muntaqueem ul kousar, Mehroosh Roub, Rasikha Rasool Khan. Nadeem Bashir , Syed Zuhare , Mansoor Ahmad Dar , Javed Ahmad Sheikh , Rehana Amin , Muntaqueem ul kousar , Mehroosh Roub , Rasikha Rasool Khan , Published by Indian Pyschiatric Society- Tamilnadu Chapter.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal the right of first publication. The work is simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that proper credit is given to the original author(s) and the source of initial publication.
