Mental disorders in patients admitted to a general hospital in western Ethiopia 1960–1970

An investigation was undertaken into the occurrence of mental disorders among patients admitted to a general hospital in western Ethiopia during a 10-year period. The proportion of patients with psychiatric diagnoses was low (0.7-2.3% per year). The findings as regards clinical picture are in accordance with other investigations from developing countries, viz. there is a high frequency of amorphous, easily precipitated and recurrent transient psychoses and hysterical symptoms and states. The findings are compared with data from a Swedish psychiatric clinic and discussed from the point of view of organizing psychiatric care in a developing country.