Socio-demographic and Clinical Characteristics of New Cases Seen, and Initial Clinician Decisions at Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital, AA, Ethiopia: A Retrospective Chart Review
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Date
2020-10
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Amanuel Mental Specialized Hospital which is situated in the capital, Addis
Ababa is the only mental health hospital in Ethiopia. The hospital has a huge burden in offering
both inpatient and outpatient services for patients who come from all regions of the country.
Having access to this hospital for treatment and continuing follow-up is also a challenge for
many patients. Studying the characteristics of patients seen at this hospital will be a good input
for the decentralization of mental health services which the country is implementing.
Objective: To assess socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of new patients seen, and
decisions made by clinicians who did the first evaluation, at AMSH.
Methodology: A retrospective chart review of 384 new cases who had been seen at AMSH from
September 11, 2019, to March 9, 2020, was done in August 2020. Sampling was done by
systematic random sampling method. Data analysis was done by using SPSS V25.
Result: The majority of patients were from Oromia 196(51%) followed by Addis Ababa 105(27.3
%). The majority of cases 298(77.6%) were labeled as regular after triage. The majority of
patients 327 (85.2%) came without a referral. Schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic
disorders 180(46.9%) were the most common diagnosis followed by depressive disorders
63(16.4%) and epilepsy 29(7.6%). The majority of cases 338(88%) were managed as outpatient
and prescribers with BSc or MSc in psychiatry 91(48.4%) were the most common clinicians
identified to do the first evaluation for the new cases followed by GPs 48(25.5%). Of total
patients, 359(93.5%) did not require medications other than risperidone, chlorpromazine,
haloperidol, diazepam, clonazepam, amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sodium valproate, phenobarbital,
and benzhexol(Artane).
Conclusion: The majority of new patients come to AMSH for a service that can be provided at
primary health care units. Increasing public awareness about mental health services and
strengthening mental health services provided in primary health care units and other hospitals by
stakeholders is recommended to decrease patient overload at AMSH and help the patients in
getting mental health services in their vicinity.
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Keywords
Mental health , mental health hospital ,inpatient ,outpatient services