Psychiatric Consultations in Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Southeastern Iran

Background: A significant proportion of hospitalized patients suffer from psychiatric disorders. A timely request for psychiatric consultation results in the early recovery of such patients. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the frequency of causes and diagnoses in psychiatric consultations in the Afzalipour Hospital in Kerman, Southeastern Iran, in 2018. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study. The required data, including age, gender, marital status, occupation, level of education, counseling wards, and psychiatric diagnosis, were extracted from the patient’s clinical records. Results: In this study, 1106 patients’ records were reviewed. Most participants were female (54.7%), and the most frequent (30.3%) age range was 20-30 years. The most common reason for seeking consultation was suicide (56%), and the most common diagnosis made by consultant psychiatrists was major depression (27.8%). The highest number of requests for consultation was made by the internal ward (68.06%). Psychiatric disorders were widespread among married subjects (P = 0.024) and patients holding high school and diploma degrees (P = 0.019). Conclusions: Psychiatric problems are common in the inpatient wards of general hospitals. According to this study, psychiatric issues and problems are highlighted more in married, young, and undergraduate women admitted to general hospitals and need further consideration.