Socio-Demographic and Clinical Profile of Pediatric Patients Who Consulted At the Out-Patient Department of A Psychiatric Facility in Southern Philippines from 2015 To 2019

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to describe the sociodemographic and clinical profile of pediatric patients who consulted at the Out-Patient Department of a psychiatric facility in Davao City, ie. Southern Philippines Medical Center Institute of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine and provide baseline data for future research and program development. Methodology: This is a descriptive chart review that used a purposive sampling method to determine the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients below nineteen (19) years old, seen at the Out-Patient Department of a psychiatric facility from January 2015 to December 2019. Results: A total of 427 charts were reviewed in this study. Majority (30.2%) of the study population had their first consult in 2019, female (56%), belonged to the 12-18 age group (64%), and had high school education (43%). Most came from Davao Region (89%) with class D social classification (64%). The clinical profile showed that majority consulted due to forensic reasons (54%), with referrals coming from WCPU, courts, or police stations (54%). Sexual abuse (43.9%) was the most common cause for forensic consult. The most common diagnosis was clustered under Adverse Childhood Experiences (30%). Most were advised referral to the psychology unit (59%) and were discharged as Out-patient (97%). Conclusion: The number of child and adolescent consults in the Out-Patient Department of a psychiatric facility steadily increased within the span of five years. Majority of the patients came in for forensic reasons, with sexual abuse as the highest. A third of the consults were diagnosed to have Adverse Childhood Experience.