Abstract

RAMOS, P  and  FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS MEDICAS, UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE ASUNCION. 1 Cátedra de Epidemiología y Ecología. 2 Cátedra y Servicio de Psiquiatría. 3 Estudiantes de 1º año. Cátedra de Epidemiología Carrera de Medicina y Cirugía et al. Epidemiological characteristics of mental disorders treated at the Psychiatric department of Clínicas Hospital of Asunción, Paraguay. An. Fac. Cienc. Méd. (Asunción) [online]. 2013, vol.46, n.1, pp.23-38. ISSN 1816-8949.

ABSTRACT Mental disorders are a major challenge and a priority for modern public health, due to its significant influence on the production of disability. In Paraguay there is very few information about mental health in general. The general objective of this research paper was to recognize the prevalence among mental disorders, linked to different variables, such as gender and age. The average patient at the psychiatric department of Clinicas hospital of Asunción Paraguay is of an age of 39.01 ± 18.52 years, among these 64.4% are women and are 35.6% are men. The prevalent diagnoses among such patients are neurotic, stress related and somatoform disorders (Group 5 of the sub-classification of mental disorders according to the WHO) with 32.34%. In this group the anxiety disorder is the most prevalent, with 55.19% of cases. Women have a higher prevalence of mood disorders with 37.41% while men have a higher incidence of neurotic disorders with 28.05%. And finally, the prevalent signs and symptoms for the different mental disorders are insomnia, anxiety and sadness. In conclusion, mental disorders are among the ten leading causes of disability worldwide and yet there is a very low rate of people with mental disorders that receive appropriate treatment, which may be due to barriers such as stigma. Community and government action is needed for a better approach towards mental disorders and health. Key words: prevalence, mental diseases, psychiatry

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )