Abstract
Introduction: Schizophrenia is a disabling brain disorder affecting approximately 24 million people worldwide. Epidemiological data on schizophrenia from western Nepal are sparse. This study aimed to determine the hospital-based prevalence and sociodemographic profile of schizophrenia among patients attending the psychiatric outpatient department of a tertiary care center in western Nepal.
Methods: This retrospective, record-based, descriptive study reviewed records of patients visiting the center over a two-year period from January 2022 to December 2023. All patients diagnosed with schizophrenia according to ICD-10 criteria were included using total enumeration. Data were retrieved from the OPD register using a semi-structured proforma and analyzed with descriptive statistics using Microsoft Excel. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee.
Results: A total of 7,739 patients attended the psychiatric OPD, of whom 192 were diagnosed with schizophrenia, giving an overall hospital-based prevalence of 2.48%. The prevalence was 2.75% in 2022 and 2.17% in 2023. Males constituted 53.98% of cases in 2022 and 67.09% in 2023. The most common age group was 20–29 years (28.31% in 2022; 37.97% in 2023). Unemployed patients (30.97%) were most common in 2022, while students (32.91%) were most common in 2023. Secondary education was the most common educational level, and most patients were married.
Conclusion: Schizophrenia constituted a notable proportion of psychiatric OPD attendances. Cases were predominantly young, married males with secondary education. These findings provide baseline data to guide mental health service planning in western Nepal.
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