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Background: Quality of life (QOL) measures are effective in quantifying disease burden after stroke, more so than levels of debility. The objective of this study is to determine QOL and associated factors of stroke survivors in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Seventy stroke survivors (study sample) and seventy stable hypertensive patients (control sample) attending clinics at a Nigerian hospital were recruited for the study. Respondents were assessed using sociodemographic/clinical questionnaires, modified mini-mental state examination, modified Rankin Scale, schedule for clinical assessment in neuropsychiatry, and World Health Organization-QOL-BREF. Results: Mean ages of the study and control respondents were 57.43 (±9.67) years and 57.33 (±9.33) years, respectively. Each sample comprised 38 male and 32 female respondents. Stroke survivors were significantly more likely to: be unemployed (P = 0.001), pay more for healthcare (P = 0.001), consume alcohol (P = 0.02), and have physical impairments (P = 0.001) compared with control. The mean QOL scores of stroke survivors were significantly lower than controls across all spheres. Stroke survivors who were unemployed, younger, female, paying more for healthcare, more disabled, with right stroke lateralization, having comorbidities, and sexual dysfunction had significantly poorer QOL specific grades. Depression or anxiety poststroke was also associated with reduced QOL means scores. Conclusion: Besides, clinical variables such as levels of disability and stroke lesion lateralization, other factors such as unemployment, health costs, age, gender, and emotional problems influenced QOL after stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a globally prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder for which early diagnosis and intervention is the mainstay of management. In the African continent, limited data is available regarding the non-clinic based samples. Lack of information available to caregivers and inadequate skilled manpower often limit early detection and access to the few available though under resourced services in the community. Community based screening can be an important drive to create awareness and improve information dissemination regarding services available for those living with this disorder. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study utilizing data obtained from participants of a community-based autism screening exercise. The surveillance exercise was part of the annual Orange Ribbon initiative for autism awareness and screening held in 2014. Data was obtained from 85 participants involved in the Autism Surveillance screening exercise within the Lagos community. Community public service radio announcements state wide and word of mouth were used to invite and enroll eligible participants to the screening and consultation exercise. A second stage screening and a brief sociodemographic questionnaire followed by a third stage clinical interview and evaluation using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - 5 Edition (DSM 5) were used. Appropriate consultation and referrals to services in the community were given. Participants had a mean age of 7.53 years (SD 4.35). Twenty-nine (34.5%) met the diagnosis of ASD. Other diagnosis included attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), language and speech disorder, intellectual disability (8.3%) and learning disorders (9.5%). Main health concerns to caregivers were poor language development in all (100%), of which 11 (40.7%) were non-verbal; gaze avoidance was seen in 14 (48.3%) and challenging behavior in 12 (42.9%). Comorbidities included seizure disorders (3.4%) and ADHD (6.9%). Persons with autism had history of ASD behavior more often when compared to the other neurodevelopmental disorders and these findings were statistically significant. Referrals were given to caregivers to engage in services within the community. As seen in this study, community understanding of ASD is poor in such locations, in which many persons with other neurodevelopmental disorders are often presented as having autism. Caregivers in the study location are distressed by many symptoms associated with autism and their comorbid conditions. Currently there is an evident role for frequent large scale community based screening and autism awareness exercises possibly using inter-sectoral collaboration as a strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Electrophysiological investigation is an integral part in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders; but this is rare in developing countries including Nigeria. Objectives: The study aims to determine EEG abnormalities among subjects with inter-ictal psychosis in comparison to those with schizophrenia. Methods: A cross-sectional study of subjects with inter-ictal psychosis and those with schizophrenia. Each of the subjects that met the inclusion criteria had an awake EEG recording that lasted 45 minutes. Results: For PWEIP, the mean age was 23.9 (±13.8) years; and made up of 53 (53.0%) males; and for PWS, the mean age was 24.2 (±13.5) years; and there were 51 (51.0%) males. The EEG was normal in 53 (53.0%) of PWEIP and in 83 (83.0%) of PWS. EEG was abnormal in 47 (47.0%) of PWEIP, and 17 (17.0%) in those with PWS, and these were all 'epileptiform' activities, and the difference was statistically significant with X2=20.7 (Fisher's exact test), df=1 and p=0.00**. Conclusion: A number of subjects in our sample with inter-ictal psychosis and PWS had EEG epileptiform activities reflecting cerebral insults in early life. Thus, preventive measures such as good antenatal care are advocated to minimize the occurrence of these neuro-psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The skin is an organ of protection and cosmetics which when affected by disease, there could be secondary psychiatric complications. The dearth of relevant data on this in our environment prompted this study. Methods A descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out in the dermatology clinic of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria. Subjects were selected using simple random sampling from the population of attendees with chronic dermatological disease of ≥6 months duration. Age and sex-matched normal controls were also recruited into the study. The subjects and controls were assessed with socio-demographic Questionnaire and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). Results A total of 80 subjects with equal number of controls and sex distribution were studied. The mean ages were 33.0 years (subjects) and 34.6 years (controls). The commonest skin diseases were acne (16.3%), urticaria (13.8%), vitiligo (11. 3%) and up to 5% were cases of Hansen's disease. The mean total SCL-90-R scores were 62. 10±51. 24 and 33. 25±33. 68 for subjects and controls respectively, with significant difference "t" of 4. 21*. In the different subscales of SCL-90-R, the subjects also had significantly higher mean scores than the controls. From standardized "t" scores of SCL-90-R assessment, ten (12. 5%) of subjects (8 males and 2 females) and 2(2.5%) of controls (1 male and 1 female) met the criteria for psychiatric "caseness" with "t" >63. Conclusions It is concluded that significant number of subjects with chronic dermatological disorders suffer secondary psychiatric complications. It is thus advised for consultation-liaison psychiatric services to be established in major dermatology centres in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study ascertains knowledge of mothers of sufferers of sickle-cell anaemia specifically regarding aetiology of the disorder and acceptable medical care. One hundred fifty-seven mothers of children suffering from sickle-cell anaemia (HbSS) attending a haematology clinic of a general hospital in Lagos were randomly sampled and asked about the aetiology and their understanding of the rules of care using a short open-ended questionnaire. The mean age of the mothers was 37.4 and a significant majority belong to the lower socio-economic strata. Thirty-four percent reported having been informed of the hereditary basis of anaemia but 48.4% received no explanation. Doctors, nurses, and lay literature were the main sources of information on the condition, as well as its medical care. The considerable gaps in appropriate knowledge on sickle-cell anaemia in Nigeria observed indicates that adequate and properly-presented information to parents or guardians of patients should be an essential part of a comprehensive care plan.

There is an observed increasing trend of substance use among the adolescents and young adults. One of the important aetiologies is "modeling" especially from popular artists portraying their use to the viewing public over the electronic media. Indigenous films on video tapes acted in English or "Yoruba" (a popular Nigerian language) were randomly selected from various retail outlets in Lagos for viewing. The settings were the Ikorodu and Ipaja suburbs of Lagos. The viewing audience in each center was made up of a researcher and two adolescent secondary school students. They were to make notes on each film with scenes of substance use, type, and nature of use. A total of 479 video tapes were studied over a 6 month period, of which 268 (55.9%) contained scenes portraying the use of one or more substances. Two hundred forty-seven (51.6%, N = 479) depicted the use of only one type of substance and the rest, 21 (4.3%, N = 479), portrayed the use of multiple substances. The commonest substance portrayed to be used was alcohol, 197 (41.1%, N = 479), followed by tobacco, 81 (16.9%, N = 479). Cannabis was shown to be used in only 3 (0.6%, N = 479); Cocaine and Heroin in 8 (1.6%, N = 479) of the films. There was no statistically significant difference on substance use portrayal between the home movies acted in English and Yoruba (chi2 = 32.8; df = 7 at p > or = 0.05). A significant number of films on video tapes in Nigeria portrayed substance use which could act as triggers or reinforcement for substance use among the viewing audience, especially adolescents and young adults. The need to censor video tapes on substance use portrayal was advocated.