A study of chronic neurotic illness in Nigeria

This is a report on a study of patients suffering from chronic neurotic illness, seen at the Psychiatric clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The patients' current mental health status was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and also, the Special Neurotic Scale. Seventy-nine patients were studied, 28 males and 51 females. Seventy-one per cent of patients belong to the low socio-economic class, 49% had no formal education, and 38% had attended hospital for over 5 years. Patients who received diagnosis of anxiety neurosis generally did better than those with diagnosis of depressive neurosis (i.e. by their scores on the GHQ). Symptoms of psychological and sensory disturbance were most resistant to treatment. These and other findings are discussed.