Neuropsychiatric diagnosis and psychotropic medication prescription patterns in a mental hospital-based child and adolescent psychiatric service in Nigeria

• Published in: Journal of health care for the poor and underserved Vol. 22; no. 3; p. 751
• Main Authors: Bakare, Muideen O, Igwe, Monday N, Odinka, Paul C, Iteke, Obiora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-08-2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescent Health Services; Child; Child Health Services; Child, Preschool; Female; Hospitals, Psychiatric; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - drug therapy; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Health Services; Nigeria - epidemiology; Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Psychotropic Drugs - therapeutic use; Nigeria
• ISSN: 1548-6869
• DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2011.0078

Mental hospital-based data on child and adolescent psychiatric services are uncommon in low-resource countries, although such data are important for service development and planning. Data are reported on neuropsychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medication prescription in a child and adolescent psychiatric service in southeastern Nigeria. Schizophrenia-like and other psychotic disorders, followed by seizure disorders, were the most prevalent, while the least prevalent included autism spectrum disorders, enuresis, adolescent postpartum psychosis, and adjustment disorders, among others. Most frequently prescribed psychotropic medications included antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and antiepileptics (either for seizure disorders or as mood stabilizer). Antidepressants and stimulants were not commonly prescribed.