PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN NIGERIAN NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS

Background. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders in nursing homes, which has not been studied before in Nigeria, is the subject of this c ross-sectional study. Method. Psychiatric disorders were assessed in 2 3 of the 29 residents of the two nursing homes in Lagos and diagnoses based on DSM-III-R criteria (APA, 1987) and AGECAT (Copeland et al., 1 986) were made independently. Results. The commonest diagnoses were de mentia in 11 out of 23 residents and depression in four residents. Ove rall prevalence rate of psychiatric disorders was 74%. Conclusion. The present prevalence rate of psychiatric disorders is similar to those reported in similar institutions in the industrialized societies. This has implications for the care of the elderly in a non-industrialized society. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.