| dc.description.abstract | Objectives: To describe the psychiatric services offered at Kenyatta National Hospital and the types
of patients and cases seen at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Design: A retrospective study based on case notes and other hospital records.
Settings: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Subjects : All patients seen in the various psychiatric clinics and those who attended the Patient
Support Centre Unit in the hospital in the year 2002.
Results : In the year 2002, 598,119 patients were treated at KNH out of which 6,878 (1.15%) were
seen in the psychiatric clinics: 1,709 adults and 1,412 children were referred to the various psychiatric
clinics. At the hospital's Patient Support Centre (PSC) 3,454 patients were seen, mostly for pre and
post-HIV test counselling. Consultations from the wards accounted for 332 (9.6%) of the cases referred
to PSC. The main diagnoses among the latter in order of frequency were alcohol related psychiatric
disorders, acute and transient psychoses, depressive disorders, dissociative and conversion disorders
and dementia.
Conclusion : In view of the high load of acute and transient psychotic states, as well as substance
related disorders, it is recommended that the hospital should establish acute wards for the
comprehensive management of such patients. An alcohol and drug detoxification and rehabilitation
centre should also be developed at the hospital. Services to those with HIV related disorders should also
be improved. | en |
