Levels and predictors of knowledge of epilepsy among patients attending the epilepsy clinic of a neuro-psychiatric facility in North-Eastern Nigeria.

Introduction: significant numbers of patients with epilepsy have poor knowledge of their disease. Patients' knowledge of disease is related to their success in coping with the disease and adherence to medication; which is one of the key factors that determined the success of pharmacotherapy in patient with epilepsy. In this study, we evaluate the level of knowledge of epilepsy among patient with Epilepsy in a tertiary mental health care facility. Methods: using a cross-sectional design, 410 patients with epilepsy attending general outpatient clinic of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Maiduguri in Northeastern Nigeria were sampled randomly into the study after fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Socio-demographic, clinical and epilepsy knowledge questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 18. Results: 263 (64.1%) had poor knowledge of epilepsy and 290 (70%) had less frequent seizures (having fewer than four seizure episodes in the last three months). Independent predictors of knowledge of Epilepsy were intermediate skilled employment (O.R = 2.32, P = 0.022, 95% C I = 1.13 - 4.76); semi-skilled employment (O. R = 1/85, p = 0.001, 95% C I = 1.10 - 3.12); seizure frequency (O R = 1.72, p = 0.031, 95% C I = 1.31 - 3.24). Conclusion: the level of knowledge of epilepsy among people with epilepsy was low with more than 64.1% percent of the participants had poor knowledge of epilepsy. Occupational status and seizure frequencies were independent predictors of knowledge of epilepsy. We therefore recommend psycho-educational programs be incorporated in the routine clinical care of the patients and for clinicians to pay more attention to providing information and education needs of patients.

Prevalence and Correlates Of Sexual Dysfunction Among Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder on Antipsyhotic Medications in Maiduguri, Northeastern Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the importance of a satisfying sexual life, most patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders do not discuss sexual issue with their clinicians. The current study seeks to determine the prevalence and socio-clinical correlates of sexual dysfunction among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders receiving typical and atypical antipsychotic medications. The second objective is to determine the frequency and correlates of specific sexual dysfunction (desire, arousal, erection/lubrication and orgasm) by gender and drug type using the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study used standardized structured interviewer based survey to assess sexual dysfunction among patients with schizophrenia that are both sexually active and inactive at a tertiary hospital in Maiduguri from December 2020 to April 2021. Participants were also assayed for prolactin using ELISA Kit for a possible association with sexual dysfunction. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of sexual dysfunction among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder receiving antipsychotics was 34% with patients on typical and atypical antipsychotics reporting rates of 36.8% and 24.6%, respectively. Among the typical and atypical antipsychotics, patients receiving haloperidol (40.3%) and risperidone (37.5%) reported a relatively higher frequency of sexual dysfunction compared to those receiving clozapine (18.2%). Independent correlates of sexual dysfunction were: female gender (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.17-3.06; P = .010), being unmarried (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.17-1.96; P = .001), pseudoparkinsonism (OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.02-2.69; P = .008), prolactin (OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.34-3.43; P = .001) and severity of illness (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.03-1.75; P = .030). CONCLUSION: Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder receiving either typical or atypical antipsychotics.

Convergent Validity of Self-Administered Addiction Severity Index in a Sample of Nigerian Patients in a Residential Treatment Facility.

BACKGROUND: Substance use disorders present with multiple drug-related problems that need to be evaluated with a view to planning and administering holistic interventions that could potentially improve addiction treatment outcomes. Many valid instruments are available for assessing the problems that occur in addiction but most of them require some training and they take a lot of time to administer. This study validates a shorter self-administered version of the Addiction severity Index (ASI) against the Clinician-administered ASI with a view to cutting the time needed to administer the instrument. METHODS: The study recruited 142 patients in a residential treatment center. Correlation coefficient and t-test were used to assess for the convergence of the two version. RESULTS: The correlation coefficients ranged from 0.52 to 0.97 for the different domain of the ASI with higher endorsement of problems in the self-administered than clinician administered version in most domains. CONCLUSION: The self-administered ASI is a valid alternative to the clinician-administered ASI and it saves valuable time especially in resource-constrained settings.

The impact of comorbid clinical depression on the health-related quality of life of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy in maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Globally, depression compromises the quality of life (QOL) of people suffering from it. We assessed the impact of comorbid depression on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in northeastern Nigeria in this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and three adults on HAART were recruited for this study from the ART clinic of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital in northeastern Nigeria. The depressive disorder module of the Composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI version 3.0) and the WHO quality of life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) were used for the evaluation of depression and quality of life respectively. RESULTS: The prevalence of depression in this study was 19.8%. The depressed respondents rated their HRQOL poorer than their nondepressed counterparts on the physical, psychological, social relationships and environmental domains as well as the global outcome, as shown by these statistically significant findings (T = 9.739, P = <0.001), (T = 8.972, P = <0.001), (T = 6.533, P = <0.001), (T = 8.913, P = <0.001), and (T = 10.018, P = <0.001), respectively. Female gender, CD4 counts <200/mm(3) and diagnosis of depression were significant predictors poor QOL. CONCLUSION: Depression has a negative impact on the QOL of the respondents. We therefore recommend incorporation of the routine screening of this important psychiatric comorbidity into the care of this vulnerable group in order to optimize patient care.