Characterization of patients with mental disorders from a general teaching hospital

Abstract

Objective: to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients with mental disorders in a general hospital. Method: a quantitative, cross-sectional study with 179 patients with diagnoses of mental disorders. The data were collected between 2012 and 2013 in hospitalization units of a general hospital by means of a structured instrument, analyzed by statistical-descriptive methods and later presented as frequencies. Results: the women presented higher prevalence of mood disorders and the men of psychoactive substance use disorders. The neurology unit had the highest percentage of cases (27.4%); 67% were receiving psychiatric treatment; 77.7% used continuous psychotropic medication; 23.5% reported suicide attempts; 21.2% had psychiatric comorbidities; 25.3% were dependent on alcohol, 30.7% on tobacco and 17.3% on other drugs. Conclusion: the particularities presented by the participants will help in the recognition of signs and symptoms of mental disorders and the planning of nursing care specific to this clientele in a general hospital.