Prevalence of brain fag syndrome and its correlation with stimulant use and socioeconomic/demographic characteristics among university undergraduate students in Nigeria

Background: Brain Fag Syndrome (BFS) is a culture-bound syndrome characterized by cognitive and somatic symptoms, commonly reported among African students. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of BFS among Nigerian university students and examine its associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among undergraduate students from a university in the northwest region of Nigeria. The study utilized a self-administered questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, stimulant use, course of study, and academic performance. The presence of BFS was assessed using standardized diagnostic criteria. Results:The study included a total of 625 participants, in their young adulthood. The prevalence of BFS among Nigerian university students was found to be 62.7%. The majority of affected students were aged 20-30, male, and from the Hausa ethnic group. No significant association was found between stimulant use and BFS. However, there was a significant relationship between the course of study and the occurrence of BFS. Academic performance (CGPA) showed a weak negative association with BFS. Other socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, relationship status, birth position, type of home, and family income did not predict the occurrence of BFS. Conclusion: The high prevalence highlights the need for attention to mental health issues among this population. The results emphasize the importance of considering the course of study and academic performance when studying BFS. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and develop effective interventions for students affected by BFS.

Co-morbid obsessive compulsive and hypochondriac disorders complicated by tardive dyskinesia in a Nigerian man.

The objective was to report a case of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with comorbid somatic symptoms that was complicated by movement disorders. A literature search on related issues was done online with Google Scholar, followed by a chronological report of the index case. This case presents a 52-year-old man who presented with intrusive, disturbing, and unreasonable thoughts at the mid adolescent time. Following these were complaints of multiple somatic symptoms which the patient labeled with different disease terms. The illness affected his academic, occupational, social, and marital role obligations. And lately, in the illness due to underlying predispositions, developed drug-related movement problems that worsened his state of handicap. This case attempts to point out the importance of early detection and cautious use of medications in patients, who present with OCDs with or without other psychiatric co-morbidities.

PERSISTENT CATATONIA IN A PREGNANT NIGERIAN WOMAN: A CASE REPORT.

BACKGROUND: The syndrome of catatonia appears to exist with many conditions, yet goes undetected by the skillful eyes of clinicians. This case which is rarely reported in literatures shows the effectiveness of antipsychotic augmenting in a persistent catatonic schizophrenia disorder. METHOD: This is a case narration of persistent catatonia in a 24-years old pregnant Nigerian woman with schizophrenia disorder. RESULTS: First line management with benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) failed to resolve the syndrome which later responded to Electroconvulsive Therapy with low dose antipsychotic augmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Cautious augmenting of electroconvulsive therapy with neuroleptics may be a quick and relatively safe procedure in the relief of schizophrenia with catatonia in pregnancy.

Case histories of brainfag syndrome in Nigerian University undergraduates.

BACKGROUND: Brain fag syndrome since the 1960s was identified as a medical problem among Nigerian students and till date there are varying opinions on its aetiology and classification. Recently it was grouped among the culture bound syndromes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Diseases (IV). This is a critical report on the clinical presentations of the brain fag syndrome in Nigerian undergraduate students. METHOD: Previous literatures on brain fag syndrome were carefully reviewed and related to the syndrome presentations in the presently reported cases. RESULTS: The clinical findings indicate underlying primary memory problems in the students and secondary other manifestations like depression, anxiety, and varying somatic complaints. CONCLUSION: Brain fag syndrome might be a primarily reversible dysfunction of the working memory circuitry with multiple piedispositions and precipitants.

Speech and language difficulties in a patient with schizophrenia-like disorder: a case report.

Neurocognitive complications, such as speech and language dysfunctions are common comorbids in psychiatric patients with underlying medical conditions, such as stroke. Ascertaining a diagnosis is not usually easy, especially in the hands of the primary physicians who first attend to such patients. In addition, making diagnosis purely on previous psychiatric presentations, without thorough neurological and neurocognitive evaluation, is a mistake psychiatrists should avoid. Cultural belief systems in Nigeria play important role in the choice of care people with psychiatric problems receive, and the dearth in the country's mental health personals is a be-deviling handicap to providers of mental health services in the country. The author presents the case of a 52 year old man with schizophrenia-like psychosis that was complicated by speech and language problems following a cerebrovascular accident. In conclusion, doctors especially psychiatrists should be alert to co morbid physical illnesses in patients with psychiatric presentations.

Attitudes towards psychiatry of undergraduate medical students at Bayero University, Nigeria

Background. This study determined and compared responses of 5th- and 6th (final)-year medical students on their attitudes to psychiatry as a profession. Also elicited were their choices of area of future medical specialisation. Method. A prospective and cross-sectional study using an adapted 27-item self-administered questionnaire to obtain responses from 91 5th- and 6th-year medical students at Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. Results. More than 60% of the students' first choices for future specialisation were surgery, obstetrics/gynaecology or internal medicine. Psychiatry was the first preference for less than 2%. More than 75% of the students' views on the overall merits and efficacy of psychiatry were positive, although they felt that psychiatry had low prestige and status as a profession. In addition, the same proportion considered that psychiatry was scientific, making advances in the treatment of major mental disorders, and helpful in liaison practice. More than 50% stated that psychiatry would not be their choice of last resort for residency education and the same proportion felt that friends and fellow students rather than family members would discourage them from specialising in psychiatry. More than 50% would feel uncomfortable with mentally ill patients, felt that psychiatry would not be financially rewarding, and did not think that psychiatrists abuse their legal power to hospitalise patients. Attitudes of the two groups of students to psychiatry as a profession were not significantly different (p>0.05). Conclusion. A clinical clerkship in psychiatry did not influence the students' choice of future specialisation

Secondary school teachers' attitude to mental illness in Ogun State, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Teachers as role models stand in a unique position in the formation of their pupils' set values about mental health issues. The aim of this study therefore was to determine the attitude of teachers to mental illness. METHOD: The questionnaire for the study was a drafted modified self-administered one, distributed among a randomly selected sample of teachers in the area of study. RESULTS: A significant number of teachers would not want to interact with former mentally ill persons in close social situations and many of them felt such people were unpredictable. Most of the respondents would not want former mentally ill persons holding sensitive jobs. More years of teaching was associated with not perceiving the former mentally ill person as being unpredictable. Teachers' highest educational qualification significantly related to their attitude towards former mentally ill persons. More teachers with Master's Degree than those with N.C.E qualification would not mind employing former mentally ill persons as gardeners, likewise not perceiving them as unpredictable or dangerous to other people in their surroundings. Results of the study showed that the majority of the teachers expressed negative attitudes in close social situations and job entrustments towards former mentally ill persons. CONCLUSION: Mental health educational programmes geared towards a change in teachers' preconceptions about mental illness and with opportunities for positive interactions with mentally ill persons might be effective in changing their negative attitude towards former mentally ill persons.