The Republic of The Gambia, on the west coast of Africa, is a narrow enclave into Senegal (which surrounds the nation on three sides), with a coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, enclosing the mouth of the River Gambia. The smallest country on mainland Africa, The Gambia covers 11 295 km2 and has a population of 1705 000. There are five major ethnic groups: Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola and Sarahuleh. Muslims represent 95% of the population. English is the official language but a miscellany of minor languages are also spoken (Serere, Aku, Mandjago, etc.). The Gambia has a history steeped in trade, with records of Arab traders dating back to the ninth century, its river serving as an artery into the continent, reaching as far as Mauritania. Indeed, as many as 3 million slaves were sold from the region during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Gambia gained independence from the UK in 1965 and joined the Commonwealth of Nations.
Little is known about psychiatric patients and psychiatric service delivery in non-Western developing countries. Therefore, this naturalistic pilot study aimed at analysing and describing the patient population treated in the Tanka Tanka Psychiatric Hospital, the mental health inpatient facility of The Gambia. Most patients were male and exhibited a wide age range of over 40 years. There were also indicators that the hospital population consisted of two distinguished groups: a large group of chronically ill patients and a smaller group of psychiatric patients with very acute symptoms. Psychotic/mood disorders and substance dependence/abuse were the most common diagnoses. In many patients problematic cannabis use was prevalent. Such research can contribute to better understand the needs of psychiatric patients, and help to develop continuously improved service delivery and optimise therapeutic options.
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