Profile of patients seeking psychiatric treatment from the adult public mental health services in Singapore.

This study examined the characteristics of patients seeking help from public mental health services and changes in the utilisation of the services over time. The sample included 198 consecutive new referrals above the age of 15 years to the adult psychiatric services provided by Woodbridge Hospital and the Institute of Mental Health from 1 January 1995 and followed up over a one-year period. The most common reason for seeking psychiatric treatment was for abnormal behaviour (26%) and the most common diagnostic group was schizophrenia/paranoid disorder (21.1%). The medical sector was the most common source of referral (56%). The primary health care services referred significantly more patients with anxiety disorders while the police and relatives/friends referred significantly more patients with schizophrenia/paranoid disorder. About one-third of the sample made their first contact with the services at the 24-hour Admission Room. One third received inpatient treatment after their first consultation and those with schizophrenia/paranoid disorders were more likely to be admitted (P < 0.05). At the end of one year, 23.2% remained in the services. There were significantly more elderly patients and those suffering from schizophrenia/paranoid disorder maintaining contact with the services after one year.