Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Patients in a District State Hospital in Eastern Anatolia

Aim: This study aims to determine the distribution of diagnoses for patients applying to the only child and adolescent psychiatry policlinic in the Doğubayazıt district of Ağrı province. Materials and Method: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 1,095 subjects aged 0-18 who applied to the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic of the Ministry of Health Doğubayazıt Dr. Yaşar Eryılmaz State Hospital between January and August 2023. Diagnoses were established based on the DSM-5 criteria classified by gender and age groups (0-6, 7-12, 13-18). Results: The patients’ mean age was 9.57 years (SD = 4.62), with 60.2% consisting of boys. Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning disorders (SLD), and mild intellectual disability were the most common diagnoses among children aged 7-12. Global developmental delay (GDD) and developmental language disorder (DLD) were more prevalent in early childhood (0-6), while anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder (MDD) were more frequent in adolescents (13-18). Boys were diagnosed with ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and DLD at higher rates, whereas girls were more frequently diagnosed with anxiety disorders, MDD, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). About 35% of patients received psychotropic medication, primarily methylphenidate, risperidone, and sertraline. Conclusion: This study highlights significant gender and age differences in the distribution of mental health diagnoses among children and adolescents in the Doğubayazıt district of the Eastern Anatolia region of Türkiye. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of childhood mental health issues and may contribute to more effective diagnostic and treatment strategies.