title: Demographic/socioeconomic factors in mental disorders associated with tuberculosis in southwest Nigeria.
abstract: In spite of the high prevalence of tuberculosis worldwide, there are few studies on its psychiatric complications. The mental state of 53 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis seen in a Nigerian chest clinic was examined using the 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), the Present State Examination (PSE), and a clinical evaluation based on the International Classification of Disease, tenth edition (ICD-10). Results were compared with two comparison groups: (1) a group of 20 long-stay orthopedic patients with lower limb fractures; and (2) a group of 20 apparently healthy controls. The sociodemographic characteristics of the groups were also compared. A significantly higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders was found in the tuberculosis group (30.2%) than in the orthopedic group (15%) and the apparently healthy controls (5%). The types of psychiatric disorders encountered included mild depressive episode, generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder (ICD-10). Psychiatric morbidity was higher in tuberculosis patients with low educational attainment, and did not show a statistically significant relationship with other sociodemographic parameters. Ways of improving the mental health of tuberculosis patients are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. haghanwa@oauife.edu.ng
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Aghanwa
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Erhabor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology