Psychological Morbidity among Psychoactive Substance Users in a Rehabilitation Centre in Nigeria

Aim:The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of anxiety and depression among psychoactive substance users in a rehabilitation centre.Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in a rehabilitation centre in Lagos state, Nigeria.Methodology: All the inhabitants of the centre who agreed to participate in the study were included in the study. However, individuals who had stayed at the centre for less than a week were excluded from the study because the effect of use or withdrawal effects of some of the drugs may mimic depressive or anxiety symptoms. The 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I) (anxiety modules) were used to asses for depression and anxiety disorder respectively.Results:A total of seventy six people participated in this study. Their ages ranged from 17 to 52 years (mean= 25.9 years SD= 8.4). A high number of the subjects were males (72.4%), single (78.7%) and unemployed (64.5%). Almost all the subjects (92.1%) were introduced to the use of psychoactive substances by friends/peers. Only 4 (5.3%) subjects reported injection drug use (IDU). 53.9% of the subjects had an anxiety disorder. While68.4% had depression. The factors associated with having anxiety disorder were female sex, older age, being divorced/ separated/widowed, unemployment, multiple substance use, long duration of use of alcohol, cocaine and heroin.Factors associated with depression included; young age of onset of substance use, female sex, being separated or divorced or widowed, unemployment, long duration/ frequency of use of substances and multiple substance use.Conclusion:This study has shown that there is a high rate ofanxiety and depression among psychoactive substance users

Comparative assessment of quality of life of patients with schizophrenia attending a community psychiatric centre and a psychiatric hospital

Background: Over the past few decades, there has been an emphasis on the de-institutionalisation of psychiatric care with a focus on community care. With Quality of Life (QoL) as an outcome measure, this study compared the QoL of patients with schizophrenia attending a psychiatric hospital and a community psychiatric centre. Design: This was a cross-sectional study in two psychiatric facilities Methods: Data were obtained through a socio-demographic and clinical questionnaire; the QoL was assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF and patient satisfaction with care with CPOSS. Total and domain scores of WHOQOL-BREF for each group were calculated and compared with each other and other group characteristics. Diagnosis of schizophrenia was based on ICD-10.Results: Participants from the two centres did not differ significantly on any of the socio-demographic characteristics measured. Similarly, there was no significant difference in their overall mean WHOQOL-BREF scores as well as the mean WHOQOL-BREF of domain scores. However, the married and females from both centres significantly had higher mean WHOQOL-BREF scores than their male counterparts. Patients in remission for more than two years or those on a single type of medication (either oral or depot preparation) from both centres significantly had higher mean WHOQOL-BREF score compared with those who had less than two years of remission or on both oral and depot preparations. Conclusion: Overall QoL of patients managed at the two centres was comparable, with similar socio-demographic as well as clinical variables influencing QoL. This suggests that patients with schizophrenia can be well managed at community psychiatric centres

Knowledge and attitudes about mental disorder amongst media practitioners in Southwest Nigeria.

Background: The mass media, described as the most important source of information about mental health issues, touch all aspects of everyday live. Media professionals remain a potent and unique factor in conveying positive messages about mental health that educate the public. This study sought to assess knowledge and attitudes about mental disorders amongst the media practitioners. Methods: Study population consists of media practitioners in a southwest Nigerian city. The World psychiatric association questionnaire measuring attitudes towards schizophrenia was modified and administered to the study group. Results: Some socio-demographic factors including years of experience and educational attainment were significantly related to attitudes shown by this group of professionals towards people with mental disorder. Conclusions: Consequent expression of negative attitudes by media practitioners towards the mentally ill suggests a need for educational program be organized for media practitioners to change their misconceptions about mental disorder and the mentally ill.