Clinical Response of Depressive Patients in a Thai Psychiatric Care Setting
Ronnachai Kongsakon, MD, LLB, MSc*, Umaporn Udomsubpayakul, MS (Biostat)**, Urai Buranapichet, BSc (Nursing)*, Rungtip Presertchai, BSc (Nursing)*
Affiliation : * Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University ** Department of Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University
Objective : To obtain data on the clinical outcome of patients with depressive disorders after three months
psychiatric care in a Thai psychiatric unit.
Materials and Methods : A prospective descriptive study of 96 patients followed up for 3 months. The severity
of depression was measured with the Thai version of the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D Thai).
Results : The response rate following 3-months psychiatric care was 67.7% (95%CI = 58.18-77.23). Fifty
percent of the patients had a HAM-D Thai score of < 7 at week 12.
Conclusion : The treatment outcome in the Thai psychiatric setting described is comparable to that reported
in other countries
Keywords : Depression, Clinical status, Outcome, Psychiatric care
