Over the last eight decades, general hospital psychiatric units (GHPUs) have become important mental health service set-ups in India. This period has seen a large number of radical changes in the Indian society. In this background, it is important to know if it had any effects on the patients attending the GHPUs.

A total of five hundred subjects, attending a GHPU were recruited prospectively for the study. The subjects were assessed using a semi-structured proforma. A comparison was made with similar studies conducted in GHPU settings over the last 5 decades.

Neurotic, stress related and somatoform disorders was the commonest diagnostic group (33%) followed by psychotic disorders (17%) and mood disorders (15%). The finding is broadly similar to the studies done at different times in the last 5 decades. However, there were lesser number of patients with mental retardation, organic brain syndrome and seizure disorder.

The study highlights the strengths of GHPU set-ups like inter-speciality referrals, fewer stigmas, patients travelling from far off places to seek treatment and involvement of family in the care of mentally ill.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.