Acknowledgement to reviewers

No abstract available.

Alcohol and drug use as factors for high-school learners’ absenteeism in the Western Cape

Background: School absenteeism has been studied in detail in relation to health risk behaviours using cross sectional studies.Aim: The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the association amongst alcohol, drug use and high-school learners’ absenteeism.Setting: This study was set in the Western Cape.Methods: Data were collected at three separate time points from 2950, 2675 and 2230 grade 8 learners aged 13–18 years old on school absenteeism, alcohol and drug use and sociodemographic characteristics. Associations between school absenteeism, alcohol and cannabis and sociodemographic factors use were examined using descriptive and chi-square analyses. Binary logistic regression was performed using generalised linear mixed model analyses.Results: Results revealed that 9.3% of the learners were absent for 2 weeks in the 15 weeks of the school year. Alcohol consumption (X2 = 34.1, p 0.001; odds ratio [OR]: 1.64 (1.38–1.94), p 0.001) and smoking cannabis (X2 = 49.9, p 0.001; OR: 2.01 (1.65–2.45), p 0.001) were associated with school absenteeism at bivariate and multivariate analyses. Furthermore, alcohol (OR: 1.42 (1.06–1.89), p 0.05) and cannabis (OR: 1.57 (1.11–2.22), p 0.05) use remained robust in predicting learners school absenteeism after adjusting for age, sex and socioeconomic status.Conclusion: These findings suggest that alcohol consumption and smoking cannabis are contemporary factors associated with school absenteeism. Therefore, interventions to ensure learners’ consistent attendance to school should integrate prevention of alcohol and cannabis use.

Review of Problems of Living: Perspectives from Philosophy, Psychiatry and Cognitive-Affective Science

No abstract available.

Erratum: Extrapyramidal side effects in first-episode schizophrenia treated with flupenthixol decanoate

No abstract available.

Quality of life and self-stigma of schizophrenia patient’s caregiver tool: Development and validation using classical test theory and Rasch analysis

Background: Providing care for schizophrenia patients is complex, and it requires dealing with various psychosocial burdens.Aim: To develop and validate a tool that measures the quality of life and self-stigma (SS) of the schizophrenia patient’s caregiver (QLSSoSPC).Setting: Outpatient psychiatric services clinics in Saudi Arabia.Methods: The current study used a methodological cross-sectional design. A sample of 205 schizophrenia patients’ caregivers was recruited by using a convenient sampling method. Classical Test Theory and Rasch Analysis approaches were used.Results: The developed tool has proven acceptable level of reliability and validity. The analysis confirmed seven-factor structure accounted for 74.4% of the total variance. Cronbach’s reliability statistics for the developed tool were satisfactory and ranged from 0.80 to 0.91.Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the QLSSoSPC tool supported its prospective use and allowing us to recommend the implementation of the tool on behalf of clinical and research purposes.

Corrigendum: Do medical students feel career ready after their psychiatry clinical rotation?

No abstract available.

Corrigendum: Dangers of Clostridium perfringens food poisoning in psychiatric patients

No abstract available.

Psychiatric morbidity amongst adolescents in a Nigerian juvenile correctional facility

Background: The high occurrence of psychiatric disorders amongst adolescents within the Juvenile Justice System (JJS) has been confirmed. Most of the available data are from developed countries and some of them focus on just a single psychiatric disorder which may not be representative of the situation in low-income countries, hence the need for more studies in developing countries, including Nigeria.Aim: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of psychiatric disorders amongst adolescent residents of a correctional facility.Setting: The study was carried out at a Borstal Institution in North-Central Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. One hundred and twenty adolescents were assessed using the socio-demographic pro forma questionnaire designed by the researcher and the Kiddies Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (KSADS-PL). Data were analysed using EPI-INFO 4.06 d version 6.04 software.Results: A total of 62.5% of the male respondents were older than 15 years. The percentage of respondents with a psychiatric disorder was 82.5%. The rate of psychiatric disorders was high with disruptive behaviour disorders being the most common at 40.8%, others were substance use disorders (15.8%), anxiety disorders (14.2%), psychosis (6.7%) and mood disorders (5%).Conclusion: This study has established a high prevalence rate of psychiatric disorders amongst incarcerated adolescents. This is in line with the findings of numerous studies worldwide. This study has identified the need to increase awareness and knowledge about the high morbidity of mental disorders in growing juvenile detainee populations. This will allow early identification of adolescents at risk of psychiatric disorders and ensure efficient resource distribution of both JJS service and mental healthcare. Effective and appropriate interventions have shown to improve overall health, quality of life and reduce the rate of recidivism amongst incarcerated juveniles.

The experiences and perceptions of mental health service provision at a primary health centre in the Eastern Cape

Background: Since 1994, the South African healthcare system has undergone several changes to meet the needs of contemporary South Africa. Yet the state of mental healthcare, especially in low-resource areas, remains in a precarious state.Aim: This study aimed to explore how persons diagnosed with a mental disorder experience and perceive mental health services in a low-resource community in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted at a primary care clinic in a low resource community setting in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants diagnosed with mental illness who had been accessing treatment for at least the past 6 months from a primary health clinic. Thematic analysis was used to analyse and identify pertinent themes.Results: The following themes emerged from the data: (1) perceptions of mental disorders – role of culture, (2) experiences of having mental disorders – loss of employment, (3) problem of stigma – social rejection and labelling, (4) experience of distress – sadness and frustration and (5) challenges in accessing treatment – transport fee and shortage of staff.Conclusion: This study yielded several lived experiences and perceptions in relation to participants’ feelings, opinions and interpretations of persons living with mental disorders and accessing mental health treatment in their local context. Future interventions should consider provision of more extensive professional help in the form of counsellors and social workers at the clinics, more efficient service delivery and future interventions regarding stigma should incorporate community members into the learning process.

Prevalence and correlates of psychological distress amongst healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: An online survey

Background: Understanding the mental health needs of healthcare workers during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic with a view of mitigating its impact on occupational functioning is vital.Aim: To determine the prevalence and correlates of psychological distress amongst healthcare workers.Setting: The study was carried out in Nigeria during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study using a convenience sample was conducted amongst healthcare workers. The survey comprised of two Google formatted self-report questionnaires, a 12-item General Health Questionnaire and a questionnaire containing socio-demographic, work related and knowledge of COVID-19 variables. Questionnaires were distributed via closed professional WhatsApp platforms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test and logistic regression.Results: There were 313 respondents and prevalence of psychological distress was 47.0%. Females were almost twice as likely to have psychological distress as males (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.21–3.04, p = 0.006). Healthcare workers who had no contact with COVID-19 positive patients had an 87% reduced risk of psychological distress (OR = 0.13, 95%CI: 0.23–0.25, p = 0.018) compared with those who had contact with COVID-19 positive patients. Healthcare workers with poor knowledge of COVID-19 had a 44% reduced risk of psychological distress compared with those with good knowledge (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34–0.93, p = 0.025).Conclusion: Findings revealed that healthcare workers in Nigeria reported psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic. Greater risk was amongst females and those who had contact with COVID-19 positive patients whilst poor knowledge was protective.