Psychiatric diagnostic categories in Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sociology
• Cultural Studies

Background:

• Psychiatric epidemiology in Saudi Arabia is under-researched.
• Understanding local patterns is crucial for culturally sensitive mental healthcare.
• Rapid societal changes in Saudi Arabia may impact mental health demographics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the demographic characteristics of new psychiatric referrals in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
• To identify trends in age and gender among psychiatric patients.
• To explore potential socio-cultural influences on these trends.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 324 new cases.
• Data collected from the Psychiatric Department of King Faisal University, Dammam.
• Study period spanned six months.

Main Results:

• A total of 324 new psychiatric cases were reviewed.
• Men constituted a higher proportion of patients compared to women.
• Younger age groups showed a higher prevalence of psychiatric referrals.

Conclusions:

• The demographic profile of psychiatric patients in Dammam differs from Western populations, with a male preponderance and younger age distribution.
• Cultural factors and rapid urbanization are suggested as potential explanations for observed patterns.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of socio-cultural determinants in Saudi psychiatric populations.