Using both the English version and an Igbo translation of Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), 132 first-time attenders to a hospital-based general outpatient clinic were screened for presence of depressive symptoms. The mean SDS index obtained for the whole sample fell within the normal range. However, a prevalence rate of 25% for depressive symptoms was obtained. 14% scored within the range for "mild depression", while 11% obtained scores within the range for "moderate depression". Only three patients were referred to the psychiatric outpatient clinic of the same hospital. The need for general physicians to be able to recognise the presence and significance of psychological symptoms in their patients is emphasized.
A retrospective study of the demographic and clinical characteristics of 73 consecutive patients aged 60 years and over admitted for the first time into a psychiatric hospital in Nigeria shows that they constituted about 5% of all admissions over a 2-year period. While the majority (58%) were aged below 70 years, 8% were aged over 80 years, with more females than males living to the older age groups. Single status, separation and divorce were more common among males; widowhood was more common among the females. A high illiteracy rate of 86% was recorded, with more males than females being literate. More than 84% belonged to the 2 lowest socioeconomic classes. There was a significant difference in the distribution of diagnostic categories, with senile dementia, affective psychosis, neurotic disorders and paranoid states more common among the females, while arteriosclerotic dementia and schizophrenia were diagnosed more often among the males. Functional psychosis (49%) was the largest diagnostic category, followed by organic psychosis (30%), while neurotic disorders (10%) ranked third. Within the functional psychoses, paranoid states (30%) predominated, followed by affective disorders (14%) consisting mainly of depressive symptoms; 6% presented with schizophrenic illness; and 11% presented with physical illness with associated psychiatric manifestations. There was a long delay before referral to hospital, associated with use of alternative medical facilities (traditional and spiritual healers). The probable sociocultural antecedents and medical and social implications of these findings are discussed.
A study of the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of schizophrenics of Igbo origin treated at a psychiatric hospital in Nigeria over a period of 6 months was made together with a limited follow-up. Males exceeded females in the proportion of 2:1. About 66% were below the age of 30 years. While there were more married females than single, there were more single males than married. However, single persons on the whole predominated. The majority (61%) were either illiterate or had low education while 52% were either unemployed or unskilled persons. Paranoid and catatonic schizophrenias were the commonest diagnostic subgroups. The short-term prognosis was very good in that 96% were greatly improved at the time of discharge. There was, however, a high dropout rate of 57% over a period of 5 years. Of those still attending, 73% remained improved. The possible sociocultural basis of some of the findings is discussed.
A study of the socio-economic and diagnostic profile of psychiatric patients treated at a mental hospital in Nigeria over a period of six months was conducted. Schizophrenia, organic psychosis, and mental sub-normality were found to have been diagnosed more often among under privileged persons from lower socio-economic classes; while affective disorder (manic depression) and neurotic illness were commoner among persons from economically more fortunate higher social classes. Males exceeded females in the cohort and the patients generally exhibited upward social mobility when compared with their parents. Possible socio-cultural factors contributing to the findings have been discussed. A suggestion is made for a more elaborate field work to study the relationship between socio-economic class and psychopathology in a developing country like Nigeria.
The socio-demographic characteristics of 142 depressive patients seen for the first time at the Psychiatric Hospital, Enugu, were studied. Females (55%) outnumbered males (45%). While depressive neurosis occurred more commonly in those under 30 years of age, manic-depressive psychosis (MDP) depression was commoner among those over 30. Married status was commoner among female MDP depressives, but there was no significant difference regarding marital status among those with depressive neurosis. MDP depression occurred more often among rural dwellers while depressive neurosis was diagnosed more often among urban dwellers. Although the majority of patients had a low level of education, there were a significant number of students and housewives among those with depressive neurosis. The probable socio-cultural factors responsible for the observed differences are discussed. A suggestion is made for a central control and monitoring of all available alternative forms of treatment (orthodox, novel, traditional and spiritual) for a better mental health delivery.
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