The prolonged Boko Haram crises in North-East Nigeria caused serious displacement and left the survivors with multiple psychological consequences such as Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A high prevalence rate of PTSD among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) has been reported across literatures. This study aimed to determine the factors that are associated with PTSD and its relationship with functional disability among IDPs in Yobe State, Nigeria. This was a cross sectional study of 450 respondents, recruited using a systematic sampling method. We used Harvard Trauma Questionnaire to screen for symptoms of PTSD and definite diagnosis made with WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), PTSD Module. Hopkins Symptom Checklist was used for symptoms of depression and definite diagnosis made with CIDI Depression Module. The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 was used to measure functional disability. There were 192 (45.5%) males and 230(54.5%) female respondents. The mean age of respondents was 39.4±18.50 years with range of 18-80 years. Significant PTSD symptoms were found among 159(37.7%) of the IDPs while Clinical interview gave a definite prevalence of 18.5%. Two hundred and forty-four (57.8%) of the respondents had disability scores in the mild range, 17.5% in the moderate range while 20.7% were in the severe range. Majority of those with disability scores in the severe range had PTSD. Factors significantly associated with PTSD were age, marital status, duration of displacement, type of abode, general living condition, self-reported general health, and disability score. A High prevalence rate of PTSD was found among IDPs and the severity of disability correlated well with having diagnosis of PTSD in the study.
A significant proportion of patients treated for schizophrenia respond poorly to medication. Few studies have systematically examined the impact of clinical characteristics of patients to antipsychotic response in our environment. The study aimed to identify clinical variables associated with response in patients with schizophrenia. A total of 172 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia, placed on antipsychotics, who presented for the first time to the hospital or have stopped medication in the preceding six months, whose responses were assessed after four to six weeks were studied. Improvement was defined as 20% or greater reduction in PANSS scores. Good response was associated with good medication adherence, good pre-morbid functioning, fewer negative symptoms, less cognitive impairment, absence of co-morbid personality disorder, and short duration of untreated psychosis. Due consideration of the impact of clinical variables could help detect poor responders early, hence avoiding unnecessary exposure to ineffective treatments and their side effects while effective interventions are delayed.
Background: Many patients with schizophrenia respond poorly to antipsychotic medication. Few studies have systematically examined the relationship of social and demographic characteristics of these patients to treatment response in our environment. Objective: To identify the social and demographic variables associated with treatment response in patients with schizophrenia. Method: A total of 172 participants with a diagnosis of schizophrenia receiving antipsychotics took part in the study. Participants were consecutively recruited involving patients presenting for the first time, or relapsed patients who had stopped antipsychotics in the previous six months. Both in-patients and out-patients who met the inclusion criteria were studied. Socio-demographic interview schedule and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were administered at the initial encounter and between 4 and 6 weeks, subsequently. Results: Defining good treatment response as ≥ 20% reduction in PANSS score, 68% had a good response while 32% had poor response. Good response to treatment was associated with late age of onset of illness, satisfactory family relationship, acquisition of skilled occupation and being married. However, there was no association between treatment response and gender. Conclusion: Knowledge about these variables in relation to treatment response would improve mental health services as regards articulation of prognosis and psycho education.
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