Characteristics and outcomes of inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric hospital in Salé, Morocco: a descriptive study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics and treatment outcomes of inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric hospital in Salé, Morocco. METHODS: Medical records of patients aged ≥15 years, diagnosed with schizophrenia, and treated as inpatients at a psychiatric hospital in Salé, Morocco, between January 2021 and December 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: In total, 592 male and 88 female inpatients aged 16 to 87 (mean, 34) years were included in the analysis. Most were single (77.5%), unemployed (91.5%), living in urban area (90.7%), of modest to poor socioeconomic status (94.3%), had secondary to high school education (75.8%), and lived with their families (92.1%). Among the inpatients, 75.4% had a psychiatric history; 77.9% had a substance use history; 22.1% had suicide attempts; 26.0% had a criminal record; 37.6% had a family history of psychosis; 45.0% had poor treatment adherence; 45.3% had experienced at least one relapse; and 33.5% had discontinued medication. Additionally, 98.8% had gradual onset; 64.5% had onset between the age of 16 and 25 years; 73.1% were forcibly taken to hospital by their families or the authorities; and 52.6% had one hospitalisation. Regarding schizophrenia symptoms, most inpatients exhibited normal speech (79.7%), neutral mood (84.4%), blunted affect (92.0%), impaired judgement (99.4%), preserved basic mental activity (98.7%), poor insight (99.7%), and danger to others (64.1%). A history of suicide attempts was associated with younger age and earlier onset, whereas poor treatment adherence was associated with male sex, lower education level, being a danger to others, and having a psychiatric history. The triple-neuroleptic regimen achieved favourable outcomes in 99.3% of inpatients. CONCLUSION: Inpatients with schizophrenia at a psychiatric hospital in Salé, Morocco were typically young men from socioeconomically disadvantaged urban backgrounds, with a history of cannabis use and poor treatment adherence. They had high rates of suicide attempts, poor insight, and psychomotor agitation. Encouragingly, almost all inpatients achieved favourable outcomes.