The purpose of the study is to describe patterns of mental illness of those who sought psychiatric services during a five-year period (1985-1991) and to relate such patterns to sociodemographic variables and periods of war violence. The sample consisted of 364 patients coming for their first visit and selected from three psychiatric clinics in Beirut. The results showed that the largest proportion of psychiatric attendance was due to depression. A higher proportion of females sought psychiatric care. Attendance for different disorders varied by age and marital status. The findings also suggested a relationship between war cycles and psychiatric illnesses. The proportion of patients with depression and anxiety increased in post violence periods.