Trend of Neuropsychiatric Morbidity in Sub-Himalayan Region: An Audit of Retrospective Data Mining

BACKGROUND: There is a paradigm shift in health loss due to premature mortality and disability from neuropsychiatric disorders with major burden in low- and middle-income countries. OBJECTIVE: To study the trend of admissions with neuropsychiatric and substance-use disorders in 3 years in psychiatry and medicine wards of tertiary care hospital in rural Himachal Pradesh. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective data mining was done from records of Inpatient wards of Dr. R. P. Government Medical College, Tanda, Himachal Pradesh, for the year 2013–2015. Demographic details and diagnosis of neuropsychiatric disorders, licit and illicit drug use, and their consequences in the form of hanging and poisoning were analyzed. RESULTS: Majority of admissions were attributed to alcohol abuse which increased in 3 years significantly in the months of July–September (P = 0.02) and October–December (P = 0.00). Almost all cases of neuropsychiatric disorders and majority of poisoning (58.2%) were observed among females. The productive young and middle age group (21–40 years) was mostly affected by all cause neuropsychiatric disorders (80.9%) and presented with poisoning (66.2%). Illicit drug abuse was on increasing drift among females. CONCLUSION: Indoor admissions were attributed to alcohol use and poisoning while neuropsychiatric disorders and substance abuse were probably dealt with at outpatient level. Treatment pertaining to mental illnesses was sought in severe cases only. Data demonstrating population burden are needed urgently to address the barriers to treatment to reduce burden.