A comparative study of alcoholic patients in Jos, Nigeria, and in Castrop-Rauxel, Germany.
A comparative study of the incidence of alcoholism and 175 associated psychopathological disorders, in 202 patients, was conducted in Castrop-Rauxel, F.R.G., and in Jos, Nigeria. The results of the study indicate that in relative terms the involvement of the females (36.6%) in Castrop-Rauxel was well over double the number in Jos (11.9%). The pattern of alcoholism in Jos was associated more with gradual personality deterioration rather than with the more frequent delirium tremens found in Castrop-Rauxel. The rate of hallucinosis and schizophreniform psychosis in Castrop-Rauxel were found to be more than double the incidence in Jos. Cases of depressive psychoses and suicidal ideas in Jos were double the incidence established in Castrop-Rauxel. A comparison of the gamma-GT of the two centres showed that in Jos 88.1% of the patients had pathological serum values compared with 61.4% in Castrop-Rauxel. This points to a higher frequency of liver impairment in the Jos cohort. The enzyme constellation established in this work is in correlation with clinical experience in Jos of a relatively higher level of terminal liver disease (cirrhosis) in patients with a history of alcohol misuse.
Isichei
H U
HU
Department of Psychiatry, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Ikwuagwu
P U
PU
Egbuta
J O
JO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000430:Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015897:Comorbidity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers