8 Common Mental Disorders Affecting Nigerians

rhamses

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In Nigeria, awareness and knowledge of Mental Disorders are extremely low, making it difficult for people to access adequate and prompt medical attention. Furthermore, factors such as lack of health facilities, inadequately skilled mental health practitioners and low socioeconomic status further the number of patients getting proper mental health care.

Mental health, as defined by WHO is “a state of well-being in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”. It includes how we feel about ourselves, how we feel about others and how capable we are of meeting the demands of life. Mental Disorder on the other hand, according to WHO is “collectively all diagnosable mental disorders or health conditions that are characterised by alterations in thinking, mood or behaviour associated with distress and/or impaired functioning”. In this article, we will look at the 8 common mental disorders affecting Nigerians.

1. Schizophrenia
It is the most severe form of functional mental illness affecting most Nigerians and is also found to be the most common mental disorder worldwide. It is commonly described as a severe, chronic and disabling mental disorder characterised by psychotic episodes with recurring functional periods of disordered thought process. It mainly affects perception and thinking; hence, gives rise to a spectrum of clinical scenarios. Common symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, disturbance of thought, disorganised speech, difficulty in concentration and poor memory.

2. Anxiety Disorders
This is a heterogeneous group of disorders with abnormal fear and stress as the main underlying disorder. Anxiety is said to be abnormal/a mental disorder when symptoms interfere with the individual’s normal productive activities; furthermore, its harmful effects outweigh its benefits because fear and stress are necessary for human survival. An anxiety disorder involves an excessive or inappropriate state of arousal characterised by feelings of apprehension, uncertainty or fear. This Anxiety can be differentiated into Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD), Panic Disorder (PD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Phobic Disorders (including social anxiety disorder), Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Acute stress disorder, with each of them having distinct clinical symptoms.

3. Personality Disorders
Personality disorders are defined by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as "an enduring pattern of inner experience and behaviour that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it." The beginning of these patterns of behaviour can typically be traced back to late adolescence and the beginning of adulthood, and, in rare instances, childhood. This deviation from personality is severe enough to affect the interaction of the patient with his/herself and the community.

Examples of personality disorders are Paranoid personality disorder (excessive pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others), Schizoid personality disorder (detachment from social relationships and a restricted range of expression of emotions) and Schizotypal personality disorder (acute discomfort with reduced capacity for close relationships). Others are Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, Antisocial, Histrionic (excessive emotionality and attention-seeking), Narcissistic personality disorder (grandiosity in fantasy or behaviour with a need for admiration and lack of empathy), as well as Avoidant and Dependent personality disorders.

4. Premenstrual Tension
This is a collection of physical, psychological and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s menstrual cycle and should be severe enough to interfere with some aspects of life. 80% of women, at one time or another experience, have some of these symptoms during their menstrual cycle; however, only 2-5% meets the criteria for premenstrual tension. These symptoms are different from the discomfort associated with menstruation. It is due to the changing level of sex steroids accompanying ovulation during the menstrual cycle. Common symptoms are irritability, emotional liability, headaches, anxiety, depression, weight gain, breast pain, syncope and paresthesia.

5. Postpartum Blues
It is a very common mental disorder, as it occurs in about 50- 85% of women. Symptoms typically peak at about 4 - 5 days post-delivery. It may last for a few hours to a few days, resolving spontaneously by 2 weeks after childbirth. Symptoms include mood liability, tearfulness, anxiety and irritability. Symptoms do not interfere with the woman's ability to function.

6. Postpartum Depression
Usually occurs within the 1st 2 - 3 weeks post-delivery, but may occur at any point after delivery. Milder depressive symptoms may have occurred during the pregnancy and are usually not observed by the patient, spouse or caregivers. Symptoms are similar to those of depression occurring at other times in a woman's life. It affects 5 -25% of Nigerian women. Common symptoms include depressed mood, tearfulness, feelings of guilt, feelings of worthlessness or incompetence, fatigue, sleep disturbance, change in appetite, poor concentration and suicidal thoughts.

7. Postpartum Psychosis
This is the most severe form of postpartum psychiatric illness affecting Nigerian women after childbirth. It is a Psychiatric emergency that needs urgent treatment by a psychiatrist and occurs in 1-2% per 1000 Nigerian women after childbirth. Its onset is usually 48-72 hours after delivery. The majority develops symptoms within the 1st 2/52 post-delivery; onset is usually sudden and it is characterised by severe aggressiveness, loud cry/shouts, suicidal attempts to self and the baby.

8. Sleep Disorders
This is a spectrum of disorders affecting an individual’s sleep. It can affect the quality, depth, pattern and rhythm of sleep. A bad night’s sleep could produce irritability, low efficiency and productivity at work, difficulty in schoolwork, whereas health and relationships also suffer. Typically, there is difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep. Narcolepsy, which is the irresistible attacks of refreshing sleep occurs daily, accompanied by episodes of brief loss of muscle tone (cataplexy), sleep-wake schedule disorder and other abnormalities that can occur during sleep.
 

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