Abstract

MEDINA ORTIZ, Óscar et al. Prevalence of Psychotic Disorders Compared to Non-psychotic Disorders in a Venezuelan Community Subjected to Stress. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2010, vol.39, n.3, pp.556-568. ISSN 0034-7450.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of psychotic disorders compared with non-psychotic disorders sorted by residence and sex in patients attending psychiatric consultation in a Venezuelan community under stress due to kidnappings, murder and high crime rates. Method: Retrospective and descriptive study of morbidity of psychiatric disorders between July and December 2008 in the psychiatric services at a general hospital in Venezuela. Results: 1.801 patients were seen at the psychiatric services, 56.7% were women. 58% came from San Cristobal, 40.4% from other cities and 1.6% from the state of Tachira. The diagnosis that prevailed among all patients was anxiety disorder (19.7%). Psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and organic mental disorder) were diagnosed in 34.6%. Non-psychotic disorders (anxiety, depression and obsessive compulsive disorder) were diagnosed in 30.2%. The diagnosis of psychosis predominated in patients from San Cristobal in comparison with those from other areas (p<0.0001). Anxiety and depression predominated in females and the diagnosis of psychosis in male patients (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Psychotic disorders were more frequently diagnosed in patients living in San Cristobal, which might suggest that emotional tension present and experienced in urban areas could be a risk factor triggering crisis in psychotic patients.

Keywords : Stress; psychosis; anxiety; depression.

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