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

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.