Diagnostic classification of first-ever admissions to Chainama Hills Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

All new female indigenous Zambian patients (180) admitted to Chainama Hills Hospital from 1 June 1974 to 31 May 1975 were seen by the authors and given a firm diagnosis before they were started on treatment. The diagnostic classification of these patients was compared to that of a similar group of patients (163) admitted to the same hospital from 1 June 1973 to 31 May 1974. Forty-two per cent of the patients in 1974/75 were given a diagnosis of depression as compared to 26 per cent in 1973/74; 14 per cent of those in 1974/75 had a diagnosis of schizophrenia as compared to 21 per cent in 1973/74, and 3 per cent of the patients in 1974/75 fell into the group of 'not yet diagnosed' as opposed by 27 per cent in 1973/74. The 'acute transient psychoses' were noted for their relative rarity in the two groups. A plea is made for all psychiatrists working in Africa to give diagnosis the importance it deserves.