Spectrum of psychotic disorder in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis at tertiary care hospital, Karachi

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of spectrum of psychotic disorder in patients presenting with first-episode psychosis, admitted in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi.

METHODS: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi, in August 2016 (the patients previously admitted from 1^st January 2015 to 31^st December 2015 were contacted). Spectrum of psychotic disorders which were previously diagnosed and labelled using International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) were included in the study.

RESULT: Out of 124 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, 52 (41.9%) were males and 72 (58.1%) were females. Amongst the patients with first episode psychosis it was found that 12.9% had schizophrenia, 29% had acute and transient psychotic disorder, 37.9% had bipolar affective disorder, 10.5% had substance use disorder, 4% had depressive disorder with psychotic features, 1.6% had organic delusional disorder and 4% had mental and behavioral disorder associated with puerperium.

CONCLUSION: First psychotic episode has a diverse psychopathology where majority of patients had bipolar affective disorder with psychotic features and warrants timely recognition and management.