Profile of inpatients with psychotic disorders referred to the consultation–liaison psychiatry unit in a general hospital in South India

Abstract

Context: Psychotic symptoms in patients with medical illnesses have been overlooked and have been understudied. It is important to understand the profile of such patients to facilitate early identification by the treating clinicians and to initiate appropriate referrals to consultation–liaison psychiatry (CLP). Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical profile of inpatients with psychotic disorders referred to CLP services in a general hospital. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective record-based study conducted at the Department of Psychiatry in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Kochi, South India. Materials and Methods: The records of inpatients referred to psychiatry from April 2018 to April 2021 were obtained. Patients with psychotic disorders (organic and substance-induced psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders) were included. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics and independent samples t-test were employed for data analysis. Results: We obtained the records of 50 patients with a diagnosis of psychotic disorders from April 2018 to April 2021. The mean age of our sample was 50.86 ± 18.94 years, and the majority were females (54%). The most common reasons for referral were medication adjustment (44%) and agitation (28%). Organic delusional disorder was the most common diagnosis (28%). Only 54% of the subjects followed up in psychiatry as compared to 78% of subjects who followed up in medical departments after discharge. Conclusions: Psychotic disorders are frequently noted in patients admitted with medical illnesses in a general hospital setup. It is important for clinicians in nonpsychiatric divisions of a general hospital to be aware of the profile of such patients to ensure timely detection of symptoms and initiate appropriate referrals to the CLP team.