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Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

The Chester M. Pierce, MD Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Objective: This study analyzes the relationship between informants' age and their assessment of mental health needs in postconflict society and examines if mental health needs assessment priorities differ depending upon whether or not the informant was exposed to the Liberian civil war.

Methods: cross-sectional survey was conducted in March 2009 to obtain data on mental health needs of Liberian children, adolescents and young adults. A total of 171 individuals were interviewed. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pretoria; and Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria, South Africa.

Objective: The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of metabolic disorders in long-term psychiatric patients, and the relationship between known risk factors and these metabolic disorders.

Methods: All psychiatric in-patients ≥18 years, who had been admitted ≥six months were invited to participate. Eighty-four patients participated. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Objective: The aim of this study was to report on the prevalence of cognitive impairment, and to assess the performance and utility of subjective, objective and informant screening tools in a heterogeneous community sample.

Method: A sample of 302 elderly participants (>60 years) living in residential homes in a large city in South Africa were screened for the presence of cognitive impairment using objective (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE] and Six Item Screener-[SIS]), subjective (Subjective Memory Complaint [SMC]and Subjective Memory Rating Scale [SMRS]) and informant (Deterioration Cognitive Observee [DECO]) screening tools. All tools were compared to the MMSE and the influence of demographic variables on the performance on these tools was considered. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Objective: The psychological impact of the South African border war on veterans has received little or no attention. This study determined the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and extent of resilience among a cohort of veterans.

Method: Of 1527 former students who matriculated from a Johannesburg high school from 1975 to 1988, only 109 were reachable for convenience and snowballing recruitment into this study. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.

Objective: To describe the demographic, clinical and risk profile of Mild Cognitive Impairment and dementia in a sample of elderly South Africans within a residential setting.

Method: One hundred and forty participants residing in a group of residential homes for the elderly were assessed by psychiatrists and assigned diagnoses of dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Participants diagnosed with dementia were also offered haematological investigations and a CT scan of the brain. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Objective: This study examined the competence and accuracy of ad hoc interpreters in interpreting key psychiatric terms at a South African psychiatric hospital

Methods: Nine individuals were asked to translate key psychiatric terms from English to Xhosa. These translations were then back-translated by independent translators, who do not have knowledge of psychiatric terminology. These back-translations were then compared with the original English. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), Delhi, India.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

School of Medicine, Cardiff University, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Nov 19;16(6). Epub 2013 Nov 19.

Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):381, 383

SADAG.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):364-70

Alan J. Flisher Centre for Public Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town , Cape Town, South Africa.

Objective: Poor adherence to medications, including psychotropic medications contributes to the burden of disease. Mental health service users (MHSU) may also not attend follow-up appointments at their health care facilities where they could discuss adherence with their health care provider. This paper reports on preliminary qualitative research preceding a randomised controlled trial that aims to improve adherence to psychotropic medication and to follow up treatment visits. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):356-63

Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Objective: National and international child and adolescent mental healthcare policy and action advocate that the health and well being of children should be increasingly given greater attention. The purpose of this study was to describe the demographic, socio economic and clinical profile of the users at the child and adolescent mental health clinic of the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH).

Method: A descriptive, retrospective clinical audit from users' clinical files was performed over a one-year period from January to December 2007. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):349-55

The Chester M. Pierce, MD Division of Global Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA , USA.

Objective: The study examined key informants' perceptions of the emotional impact of traumatic events, major problems, functional limitations and appropriate treatment settings for children, adolescents, and young adults in post-conflict Liberia.

Method: This research is a based on cross-sectional survey conducted between March 30, 2009 and April 30, 2009 in Liberia with 171 local key Liberian informants. Analysis was conducted using mixed methods. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):343-8

Department of Psychiatry, Weskoppies Hospital, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.

Objective: A rape victim may encounter professionals in both the health and the legal systems. Unanswered questions remain about clinical factors associated with a rape victim's ability to testify in court, and the quality of care offered to rape victims. The objectives of this study were thus to determine the clinical factors that are associated with a rape victim's ability to testify in court, as well as to undertake a preliminary exploration of the referral system between the court and the mental health services. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):338-42

Division of Psychiatry, Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand. South Africa.

Objective: This study qualitatively explored local meanings of thinness and dysfunctional eating in black adolescent females in the rapidly westernizing socio-cultural context of post-apartheid South Africa.

Methods: Four (n=4) urban state highschools in KwaZulu-Natal were selected from which 40 subjects were sampled from Grades 9-12. Focus groups were conducted following a semi-structured interview and analysed using Constant Comparative Analysis. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):333-7

Department of Mental Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

The concept of Quality of Life is becoming an increasingly important measure of the impact of psychiatric disorders and is now recognized as useful in the healthcare evaluation of patients with psychiatric disorders. The aim of this review was to document and analyze the research data on quality of life in Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders. The electronic databases, Medline and Pubmed were searched for published articles on quality of life in Nigerian patients with psychiatric disorders. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):329, 331

Department of Psychiatry, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):327

Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children's Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Altindag, Ankara, Turkey.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):325

Medical School, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania. Australia.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):321, 323

Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden & University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Sep;16(5):311-3

Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):306

SADAG.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):304

SADAG.

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):288-93

Gender & Health Research Unit, Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, Cape Town, South Africa.

Objectives: Although mental health impact of gender based violence has been documented for many decades, the impact of the socio-cultural dimensions and type of perpetrator on mental health outcomes has not been described outside of developed countries. We explore depression symptomatology four to six weeks post-rape in South Africa and examine whether this differs according to the circumstances of the rape.

Method: 140 participants recruited from public hospital services in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces were interviewed within two weeks after completing the post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) medication. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):283-7

Department of Psychiatry, Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Objective: To assess the pattern of and factors associated with outpatient clinic attendance among patients diagnosed with schizophrenia at a Nigerian psychiatric hospital.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 313 consecutive outpatients with diagnosis of schizophrenia confirmed with the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnosis (SCID). Data was collected on sociodemographics, clinic attendance, perceived social support, perceived satisfaction with hospital care and illness severity (assessed using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, BPRS). Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):277-82

Department of Behavioural Medicine, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Objective: The study was based at a South African hospital providing inpatient care for people with chronic mental disorders, and aimed at investigating the multidisciplinary team (MDT) members' views, understanding and attitudes towards psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR).

Method: A survey method was used, with the MDT members completing a questionnaire that tapped, inter alia, their understanding of PSR, perceived aims and goals of PSR, adequacy of their professional training to implement PSR, availability of resources to implement PSR, and their views of chronic mentally ill patients, including their functional skills, needs and prognosis.

Results: Of 114 respondents, 19. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):271-6

Gender Research and Advocacy Project at the Legal Assistance Centre, Windhoek, Namibia.

Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the problems that parents or caregivers of children with mental health disabilities and disorders in Namibia experience when accessing healthcare resources for their children.

Method: Data was collected through focus group discussions with the participants and individual interviews with the key informants. Overall, a total of 41 people provided information for this study. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):264-70

Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.

Objective: While psychoeducation has been shown to positively affect outcomes in psychiatric disorders, its utility has been little studied in developing countries. The current study sought to examine the role of psychoeducation at a general psychiatric outpatient clinic in Kampala, Uganda in improving clinic attendance, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes.

Method: A prospective case-control study using a quasi-experimental design was conducted in 117 patients suffering various psychiatric disorders. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):256-63

Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Pk, London, UK.

Objective: There are currently no practising psychiatrists in Somaliland. In 2007 the first medical students graduated from universities in Somaliland without mental health training. We aimed to pilot an intensive but flexible package of mental health training to all senior medical students and interns using interactive training techniques and to evaluate its effectiveness by assessing knowledge, skills and attitudes. Read More

Afr J Psychiatry (Johannesbg) 2013 Jul;16(4):247-55

Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

A review of the international medical literature was undertaken on the role of spirituality in the discipline of psychiatry, within the context that a perceived change is taking place in the health care environment in South Africa. Revitalized interest in spirituality was evident from the literature partly because Western societies have, through the migration of people, become more heterogeneous in recent years. The literature concurred that spirituality must be incorporated into the current approach to the practice and training of psychiatry, but within the professional scope of the discipline, while all faith traditions and belief systems should be regarded equally. Read More