{Short-term diagnostic stability among re-admitted psychiatric in-patients in Eldoret, Kenya}

Citation:

Atwoli L, Ndambuki D, Owiti P, Manguro G, Omulimi N. {Short-term diagnostic stability among re-admitted psychiatric in-patients in Eldoret, Kenya}. African Journal of Psychiatry (South Africa). 2012;15.

Abstract:

Objective: To determine the prospective and retrospective consistency of diagnoses among readmitted psychiatric in-patients at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya. Method: Admission and discharge diagnoses among a consecutive sample of 114 psychiatric in-patients readmitted at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital between August and December 2009 were compared. Results: The commonest diagnoses at admission were schizophrenia spectrum disorders (47.4{%}) and bipolar spectrum disorders (30.7{%}). Overall diagnostic stability as measured by prospective consistency in this study was 72.8{%}.The most stable diagnostic category was Major Depressive Disorder (100{%} prospective and retrospective consistency), followed by Bipolar Disorders (91.4{%} prospective consistency, 69.6{%} retrospective consistency) and Substance-related disorders (87.5{%} prospective consistency, 50{%} retrospective consistency). Schizophrenia-spectrum disorders had a prospective consistency of 75.9{%} and a retrospective consistency of 87.2{%}. 'Other Psychotic Disorders' (acute psychotic episode and psychotic disorder not otherwise specified) had the lowest diagnostic stability, with both prospective and retrospective consistency being 0{%}. Conclusion: Mood disorders and substance-related disorders have the highest diagnostic stability among readmitted psychiatric inpatients in a low-income country.