A cross-sectional study on the socio-demographic characteristics, clinical variables, the role of stressors and phenomenology in patients with acute and transient psychotic disorders in North India

Abstract

Abstract
Background: Acute and transient psychotic disorders have benign course and occurs in the presence of identifiable and extremely traumatic stressors (close temporal relation between stressor and development of psychosis) which necessitate clinical investigations. Stressors are also known to affect phenomenology and its content. Aims and Objectives: To study the socio-demographic characteristics, clinical variables, the role of stressors and phenomenology in patients with acute and transient psychotic disorders. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted which included 150 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were diagnosed according to ICD-10. A written informed consent was obtained from the patients and/or their family members. Patients’ information was recorded on socio-demographic and clinical profile sheet. Thereafter, PSLES and PANSS scales were applied to assess the stressors and phenomenology respectively. Results: Most of the patients were female between 15-35 years with mean age of 32.45 years, The majority of the patients were educated, married, unemployed, living in a nuclear family and had a rural background. Most of the patients presented within two weeks of the onset of the illness without any positive family and past history of psychiatric illnesses. Around three-fourths of total patients had stressors preceding the onset of illness. The average value of PANSS was higher in female. Sleep disturbances, delusions, hallucinations, poor rapport, lack of insight and concrete thinking were the most commonly observed symptoms in ATPD patients.Conclusions: Maximum patients who developed the illness had psychological stressor/s in their lifetime mainly before 2 weeks of the onset of the illness. It helps to consider the person’s life events as a trigger for illness and make decisions regarding treatment accordingly.
Key Words : Phenomenology, Psychosis, PSLES, Stressors.