Background: The consequences of non-adherence to prescribed medications by psychiatric patients for both patients and the health care system are myriad and grave. Aim: The study was designed to ascertain the prevalence of medication non-adherence among psychiatric patients and identify factors that aid this malady. Methods: This prospective, cross-sectional study was carried out within a 4 month period at the out-patient psychiatric clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital; using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS) and a self designed questionnaire containing socio-demographic and psychiatric illness variables. Results: A total number of 111 patients who participated in the study were analyzed. The cohort comprises 22 (19.8%) schizophrenics, 38 (34.2%) mood disorder patients, 24 (21.6%) anxiety disorder patients, 10 (9.0%) patients suffering from substance abuse and 17 (15.3%) with other psychiatric diagnoses (somatoform and personality disorders). Most of the patients were male (53; 47.7%), aged between 21 -30 yrs (44; 39.6%), unemployed (38; 34.2%), as single (58; 52.3%). The prevalence of non-adherence to medications among the cohort studied is 39.6%. There was a significant association between consistency in taking one's medications and MARS scores but none between socio-demographic variables and MARS score. Conclusion: The rate of medication non adherence among the subjects in this study was 39.6%. The three most important reasons reported for this behaviour include: Feeling that they had recovered from their illness and hence have been cured, belief that their illness was of a spiritual origin and hence would not be amenable to orthodox medicine and the side effects of the medications. Non adherence to medication increases the risk of psychiatric morbidity and mortality and efforts at curbing this trend must be eclectic.

A commentary on "The co-morbidity of Alcohol Use Disorder and depression among patients attending a tertiary hospital in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria" is the objective of this exercise. The study demonstrated a higher rate of alcohol use disorders (AUD) among those who presented with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, about half of the subjects who met the criteria for AUD in the study also met the criteria for depression while only a quarter of those who didn't satisfy the criteria for AUD were also found to be depressed. This underscores the concept of comorbidity which is well documented as a challenging phenomenon for therapists. The coexistence of two chronic illnesses in the same individual constitutes double jeopardy because of their synergistic deleterious consequences on the body. Even though many plausible theories have been propounded to explain the concept of co-morbidity of AUD and Depression, none has sufficiently explained the common risk factor for and/or the exact cause of this challenge.Nevertheless, the need for a routine comprehensive clinical assessment of any patient with co-existing disorders in clinical settings is recommended.

Objective: To ascertain the knowledge about mental illness and attitude of undergraduate students in a university in southern Nigeria, towards the mentally ill. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a Catholic University in Nigeria over a three-month period. 215 subjects were selected randomly from the total student population of 5045. A questionnaire containing socio-demographic variables and three subscales: The Knowledge about mental illness scale, Attitude to mental illness scale, Social Distance scale was administered to each subject. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: Males (62.3%), Christians (91.2%), Igbos (49.5%) and Single (93.0%) constituted the largest proportions of the subjects. A majority of the subjects supported some of the common inaccurate stereotypes about mental illness. They exhibited obvious gap in knowledge with respect to symptoms of specific mental disorder. 42.8% were not sure of the biological cause of mental illness. Even though 80% of the subjects agreed that those suffering from mental illness should be helped, 48.8% maintained that they have little in common with them. Only 33% were willing to make friends with someone with a mental illness. Conclusion: Better ways of educating the youths to dissolve deeply entrenched negative cognitions about mental illness should be given premium attention by all stakeholders, especially in Africa.

Objective: To identify the socio-demographic factors that correlate with depression in patients attending a tertiary hospital in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.Methods: 470 subjects, recruited by a systematic sampling method participated in the study. The Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered to each person. Only one hundred and eighty five subjects met the criteria for the second stage of the study, (a score of 18 and above on the BDI). Diagnosis was made with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview schedule and data analysis done with the statistical package in the social sciences (SPSS). Results:The prevalence of depression was significantly lower among the married in comparison to the presently unmarried which includes the widowed, the divorced/separated and the single (X 2 =4.070, df=1, p<0.05). The higher prevalence of depression among low income earners was also statistically significant (X 2 =12.453, df=4, p<0.05). Conclusion:It is recommended that family physicians and psychiatrists should develop a high index of suspicion when attending to patients in order to reduce the number of missed diagnosis of Depression. Furthermore, policy makers should enunciate policies to improve the quality of life of citizens and reduce the incidence and burden of Depression in our environment.

Objective:The study was designed to assess the prevalence, patterns and correlates of schizophrenia among outpatient attendees at Madonna University Teaching Hospital, Elele over a three year period. Materials and Methods:Case files of all psychiatric patients who attended the psychiatric clinic of Madonna University Teaching Hospital (MUTH) from January 2014, to December 2016 were reviewed.Results: A total of 978 psychiatric patients attended the hospital within the time frame stated. Out of this, 214 were diagnosed schizophrenic. The prevalence rate of schizophrenia in the study was 21.9% and the mean age of the subjects was 35.6+10.4 years. A greater proportion of the subjects were aged 31-40 years (37.4%), male (60.7%), unemployed (39.2%), single (58.9%), had secondary education (42.1%), Christians (99.1%), paranoid schizophrenics (47.7%), and aggressive (55.1%). There was significant association between aggression and age (X 2 =21.417, df=5, p<0.05), employment status (X 2 =29.686, df=5, p<0.05), marital status (X 2 =21.971, df=3, p<0.005). Also significant correlations were found between aggression and delusion as well as between family history of psychiatric disorder and both suicidal variables and delusion. Conclusion:Mental health disorders are not uncommon and schizophrenia ranks high among them. The continued neglect of mental health issues in our environment and the large unmet need for service to them is a stiff challenge. Improvement in our knowledge of the epidemiology of schizophrenia in our environment will contribute in bridging this gap.