Background: Indigenous mental healthcare using traditional non-western methods termed "unorthodox approaches" has been observed in Nigeria historically. This has been largely due to a cultural preference for spiritual or mystical rather than biomedical formulations of mental disorder. Yet, there have been recent concerns about human rights abuses within such treatment settings as well as their tendency to perpetuate stigmatization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The Discrimination and Stigma Scale (DISC) is a patient-reported outcome measure which assesses experiences of discrimination among persons with a mental illness globally.
Methods: This study evaluated whether the psychometric properties of a short-form version, DISC-Ultra Short (DISCUS) (11-item), could be replicated in a sample of people with a wide range of mental disorders from 21 sites in 15 countries/territories, across six global regions. The frequency of experienced discrimination was reported.
Introduction: Prior research has highlighted the psychosocial impact of infectious diseases on individuals and the community at large. However, little is known about the psychosocial implications of COVID-19. This study set out to determine the rate as well as correlates of anxiety and depressive symptoms among persons managed as in-patients for COVID-19 in Lagos, Nigeria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Self-stigma is a common barrier to maintenance therapy and recovery in schizophrenia. We investigated the prevalence of the decision not to use medication as prescribed and describe the multidimensional relationship of self-stigma with such a decision in 370 adults with schizophrenia.
Method: A multivariate binary logistic regression model was used to examine the relationship between specific aspects of self-stigma (alienation, perceived discrimination, stigma resistance, stereotype endorsement and social withdrawal) and the decision not to take medication, while controlling for other clinical variables.
Background: The burden of symptoms and other concerns in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is known to be high, adversely affecting the quality of life of the growing number of those with this condition in developing countries. In this paper, we describe the protocol of a longitudinal observational study among people living with CKD. The study is developed to assess the bio-psychosocial factors associated with palliative care symptoms and concerns, and pattern of health services usage among Nigerians with stages 3-5 CKD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFForensic and correctional mental health services may constitute an important "safety net" for the mentally ill and can ensure a degree of public protection. The increasing prison populations and shift towards humane care of the mentally ill that encompasses promotion of human rights, community re-integration, utilitarian safety and operation of internationally comparable mental health legislations underscore the need to appraise correctional psychiatry services, especially in resource-restricted settings. We present findings from a review of the literature and from mental health services provided to 179 inmates in two Nigerian urban prisons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: We set out in this study to determine the demographic and clinico-anthropometric correlates of disordered eating attitudes among undergraduate students of two higher institutions in Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 1,054 participants after written informed consent. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) and 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) were administered to the participants.
We set out to carry out a case-control evaluation of psychological distress and emotional pain among adult attendees of a Nigerian dental clinic. A total of 201 subjects, made up of 101 dental patients (test group) matched with age and sex with 100 normal subjects (controls), was recruited into the study. All participants completed a designed socio-demographic questionnaire.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is a growing global concern about the public health implications of the increasing population of the elderly. One main issue of concern is centered on how to address their mental health needs using homegrown interventions and services. We expect that important lessons on geriatric mental health issues would be brought to fore in this report.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Co-morbidity of depressive symptomatology is a common indication for use of mental health services in oncology. In this regard, screening instruments are useful for prompt identification of mental disorders in cancer. This study is set to evaluate the diagnostic validity of Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CES-DR) for depression screening in cancer.
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