Schizophrenia in northern Sri Lanka

A descriptive study of 148 schizophrenic patients admitted to the University Psychiatry Unit in northern Sri Lanka during the first six months of 1986 is reported. There were 85 females and 63 males. 65% of the patients belonged to the 15-34 age group. Nearly half were first admissions. 63% of the patients had a positive family history. Firstrank symptoms were elicited in 76% of the patients. Paranoid schizophrenia was the commonest subcategory followed by chronic schizophrenia. Catatonic schizophrenia was rare. The average period of hospitalisation was 21 days, and 81% of the patients had improved on discharge. These findings are compared with results from other countries.