CHANGING SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS ATTENDING A GENERAL HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC: SOME INDICATIONS OF COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE

Demographic and clinical variables of first one thousand new patients attending a general hospital psychiatric clinic during each of the two years 1967 and 1977, were compared. The profile of a typical patient seems to have undergone a marked change over the decade. More patients are low drawn from lower income and occupational categories and the proportion of rural patients has increased. Proportion or acute psychiatric presentation particularly acute psychosis has increased markedly. Follow up rate has improved. All these indicate an increasing acceptance of this facility by the community and a better psychiatric awareness.