Clinical neuropsychiatric correlates and EEG findings among children with developmental disorders in Lagos, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Developmental disorders with or without associated neuropsychiatric complications continue to be one of the major health problems in Africa. The grossly inadequate management/ rehabilitative facilities further worsen this. A prospective study aimed at finding the types of developmental disorders and associated neuropsychiatric complications among children aged

One year of EEG unit at psychiatric hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

To show the continuous investigative value of electroencephalography (EEG) in the management of neuro-pathological disorders such as epilepsy in Nigeria. The limitation against this, especially lack of adequate fund to procure the EEG machine was highlighted. A prospective study over the first twelve months of setting up the EEG unit at the psychiatric hospital, Yaba, Lagos. Subjects included all the patients that had EEG recording in the unit during the study period. Awake EEG was done on each subject using 10-20 system of electrode placement with metal disc electrodes on the 24-channel medelec computerised EEG machine. Majority of the cohort (71.3% ) were aged < 30 years. Seizure disorder constituted the largest clinical reason for EEG request. The EEG findings were normal in close to 44% of the cohort, but abnormal in 56% with 'epileptiform activities' as the most common abnormalities. Despite the notable constraints involved, EEG continues to be of immense value in the management of neuro-pathological disorders in Nigeria.

Ten-year mortality review in a pioneer psychiatric hospital in West Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the mortality among admitted patients in the study centre, a pioneer psychiatric facility in the West African sub-region. DESIGN: A detailed retrospective study of the records of all deaths among the inpatients during the ten-year period of January, 1991 to December, 2000. SETTING: Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; established in 1907 with present bed status of 535 and patronage from Lagos and it's environ, including the neighbouring Benin Republic. SUBJECTS: Ninety six patients that died while on admission in the centre during the study period. RESULTS: A total of 96 patients died over the ten-year period, giving an annual rate of 9.6. The age range was 14-87 years, and mean of 44.4 (SD +/- 16.8) years. The male: female ratio was 1:1.6. Schizophrenia (26%) and major depression (25%) constituted the main psychiatric diagnoses at the time of admission among the cohort. The commonest cause of death included infections/infestations, most especially malaria and septicaemia (44% of the cohort). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the major psychotic disorders, schizophrenia and depression continue to constitute the highest psychopathologies diagnosed psychiatric mortality study. Finally, infections/infestations still continue to play leading role as major causes of death in the West African sub-region.

Folie-a-deux: report of two incidents.

Two incidents of shared delusions are presented, one between two brothers and the other between an elderly couple. Their presentation and management are discussed. The possible role of projection and overvalued ideas as aetiological factors in Nigerians with shared delusions are highlighted.