A study on sociodemographic, clinical profiles and outcome of institutionalized wandering mentally ill admitted in Institute of mental health, kilpauk, chennai.

INTRODUCTION: There are about 500,000 homeless wandering mentally ill patients in India.They are mainly found wandering on the streets near bus stands, street corners,pilgrim centres and railway stations in poor physical state in urban areas.They are treated mainly by the government run mental health hospitals. They require psychosocial rehabilitation with treatment.15% suffer from severe mental illness and are homeless. Most of the wandering mental ill mainly belong to economically, socially backward families.Schizophrenia is most highly prevalent in the age group of 31-40 years, who are admitted with reception orders as “Unknown”. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To study the presentation, clinical profile and rehabilitative outcome of wandering mentally ill (WMI)admitted in Institute of mental health, kilpauk chennai. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of wandering mentally ill patient(WMI) admitted from January 2021 to August 2021 in Institute of mental health kilpauk chennai. Sociodemographic , clinical presentation and rehabilitation outcome analysed by descriptive statistics. Inclusion criteria: • All patient found unattended brought to attention by a second person, who were unable to provide reliable address and there were no relatives/friends/caretakers known at the time of admission with apparent mental illness at the time of admission were included in study Exclusion criteria: gross medical cause on examination at the time of admission and those who provided complete identity and address within 24 hours of hospital stay. Conclusions This study shows that psychosis nos, schizophrenia, comorbid mental retardation and substance use disorder are common causes of admission of WMI patients in psychiatry. It is an emerging problem, and there is a need for guidelines and collaboration with government and non governmental agencies.