Original Contribution

Referral Patterns for Psychiatric Morbidities from Non-Psychiatric Medical Departments: A Retrospective Study in Rural Bangladesh

*Bashar MK,¹ Kulsum U,² Talukder MM,³ Mitu MR,⁴ Hasan MK,⁵ Sultana N⁶

*Dr. Md. Khairul Bashar, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College, Kishoreganj. kabashar47@gmail.com
Umme Kulsum, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College, Kishoreganj.
Muhammad Moinul Alam Talukder, Assistant Professor, Pharmacology, Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam medical College, Kishoregonj.
Marshia Rahman Mitu FCPS (Medicine), OSD, DGHS, Mohakhali, Dhaka.
Md. Kamrul Hasan, Assistant Professor Department of Anesthesia, BSMMU, Dhaka.
Nadia Sultana, MPH, National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM), Mohakhali, Dhaka

*For correspondence

Abstract
Objective: Mental disorders are a leading cause of disability globally, yet they remain underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Very often patients visit primarily to a non-psychiatric medical department for their psychiatric diseases. This study aims to explore the referral patterns, sociodemographic profiles, and diagnostic distribution of psychiatric patients in Bangladesh, with a focus on identifying systemic barriers and optimizing the role of non-psychiatric medical providers in improving access to mental health care.
Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study investigates the referral patterns for psychiatric morbidities from non-psychiatric medical departments at Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, spanning October 2023 to November 2024. Data were extracted from 95 patient records to analyze demographics, referral sources, and diagnostic categories.
Result: The findings revealed that most patients (81.05%) were referred from the medicine department, with attending physicians accounting for 54.7% of referrals. The cohort was predominantly female (72.6%), from rural areas (72.6%), and low-income households (88.4%). Conduct disorder (16.84%), depressive disorder (13.68%), and generalized anxiety disorder (12.63%) were the most prevalent diagnoses.
Conclusion: These patterns highlight significant delays and barriers in accessing psychiatric care, underscoring the pivotal role of non-psychiatric providers in early identification and referral of mental health conditions. The study emphasizes the need for targeted training and awareness programs for non-psychiatric physicians to bridge gaps in mental health care.

[Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Med Col J 2025, Jul; 10 (2):111-120]

DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.69699/ssnimcj2025v10i2s4

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