Research Paper: A Five-Year Report on Clinical and Demographic Characteristics of Children and Adolescents Admitted to a Major Psychiatric Hospital

Objectives: More attention is now paid on the importance of emotional and mental well-being of the youth. To better plan for psychiatric health care and rehabilitation in this age group, we need to shed light on the epidemiological picture of their mental disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of the referrals to a child and adolescent psychiatric ward during 5 years. Methods: In this prospective observational study, all the youth, who had been admitted to the Roozbeh Hospital for the first time, were recruited. All of the participants were evaluated, using the Roozbeh Hospital Item Sheet as a standard tool for obtaining their demographic and clinical features. The level of global functioning was also assessed, utilizing the Children Global Assessment Scale. Results: Over 55% of the inpatients (n=192) were male with a Mean±SD age of 15.2±2.36years. The average length of admission was 40 days. The most common diagnoses were (in descending sequences): 1. bipolar mood disorder; 2. attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; and 3. autism spectrum disorder. The global functioning mean score of the participants was between 29 and 59 out of 100 through the worst and the best situations of the psychiatric condition. Discussion: The study findings highlight the predominance of mood disorders and their complications among this group of inpatients as well as their required and special assessments and interventions. Future annual reports can help with better understanding the trends in mental health issues that potentially aids in policymaking and developing treatment guidelines.