FACTORS INFLUENCING RELAPSE AMONG PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AT FEDERAL NEUROPSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL ENUGU, NIGERIA

📄 Project Abstract

The aim of this 10-year retrospective study was to investigate the factors associated with relapse in patients with schizophrenia at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu - Nigeria between January, 2005 and December, 2014. Schizophrenia is characterised by cognitive and emotional dysfunctions including delusions and hallucinations, disorganized speech and behaviour, and inappropriate emotions. Multiple schizophrenic relapses devastate the lives of both the patients and their families. The study examined the prevalence of schizophrenic relapse, identified the factors influencing relapses and examined the treatment /management strategies for schizophrenia in the facility. Convenience sampling method was used to select hospital case notes of 498 relapsed patients (260 males and 238 females). Data were collected using a researcher-designed proforma. Hypotheses were tested with multivariate logistic regression analysis at 0.05 probability level. The prevalence rate of relapse was 6...