Factors associated with mental disorders in the psychiatric department of the university hospital centre of Point G in Mali

Introduction: Mental health is a state of equilibrium and well-being, any alteration of which leads to the appearance of a state of distress and/or mental disorder. Objective: The objective of this work was to study familial and environmental factors associated with mental disorders. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Psychiatry Department of the Point G University Hospital Center from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 among outpatients with a psychiatric disorder in whom factors associated with psychiatric disorders were studied. Results: We included 288 patients. The median age was 33.0 years. The sex ratio was 1.88 in favor of males. Married patients accounted for 45.5%. First born uterine siblings accounted for 26.7%. Patients born of an inbreeding alliance accounted for 25.7%. Cases with a family history of a psychiatric disorder represented 59.0% and those who spent their childhood with their parents accounted for 64.2%. Cases of psychoactive substance use prior to the onset of the mental disorder accounted for 42.7%. The main psychosocial stress factors that preceded the onset of the mental disorder were grief (46.2%) and family conflict (22.6%). Psychotic disorders accounted for 77.8%. Conclusion: Our results show an association of mental disorders with family history of psychiatric disorder among patients followed in psychiatry. Further studies, such as genetic association may prove useful.