Profile of Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Backgrounds: Mental illness is a common phenomenon at all ages. Various independent studies have shown that psychopathology is often expressed on a continuum from youth to adulthood. The aim of our study was to answer the question what are the problems that are likely to bring a child or an adolescent for the admission in the child and adolescent psychiatry Unit. Methods: The case records of all inpatient children and adolescents younger than 18 years, who were admitted to the child psychiatric unit at SQUH, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman over a period of 10 years between Jan 2007 and Dec 2017, were retrospectively reviewed in regard to sociodemographic data, referring specialties and reason for referral. Result: A total of 255 cases were admitted in child psychiatry unit in a period of 10 yrs, the average age was 14.15 years, 95% patients were Omani nationals, 47.5% were male, 52.5 were females, 17.65% Acute and transient psychotic disorder, 13.7% bipolar affective disorder, current episode manic without psychotic symptoms, 12.94% Intentional self-harm by other specified means and 12.55% schizophrenia, were the most common diagnoses observed in this population who needed inpatient care; the average length of stay in the majority of cases was less than 3 weeks. Conclusion: The child and adolescent inpatient unit of SQUH from where the data was collected happens to be the only child psychiatric admitting unit in Oman till the end of 2017 and can be considered as representative; the children and adolescence in-patient unit exemplifies a short-term care set-up.