Organic personality disorder in Chile: A descriptive analysis of hospital discharges between the years 2021–2024

Abstract

Introduction: Organic personality disorder consists of personality alterations secondary to central nervous system injuries. Objective: To describe hospital discharge rate for organic personality disorder during 2021-2024 in Chile. Methodology: Observational, descriptive, quantitative study was conducted. Data was obtained from the Department of Health Statistics and Information and National Institute of Statistics. The analysis was performed using measures of central tendency, graphs, and tables with Excel analytical software. It didn't require ethical committee approval. Result: The highest hospital discharge rate was in 2024 (0,69/100.000 inhabitants), with female predominance (0,70/100.000 inhabitants) and in 15-19 age group (1,37/100.000 inhabitants). The longest average hospital stay was in 2024, at 49,02 days. Discussion: The increase in hospital discharge rate could be related to the pandemic, when significant deterioration of psychiatric pathologies and reduced access to healthcare were reported, leading to an accumulation of severe cases. Regarding the female sex, this could be associated with suboptimal management of psychiatric pathologies in women, worsening evolution and prognosis. Concerning the age group, there’s a greater association with traumatic brain injuries. Regarding the average length of hospital stay, this may stem from an increase in hospitalized patients’ descompensations. Conclusion: Organic personality disorder is a significant cause of hospitalization in Chile. Its underdiagnosis and sex-based bias are notable, delaying access to treatment, favoring hospitalizations due to decompensations, and prolonging hospital stays. This highlights the need to integrate policies with multidisciplinary approaches regarding mental health and to delve deeper into related studies.