Review of the Challenges Facing Management of Patients with Psychotic Disorder and the Need for Mental Health Policies in Nigeria

Abstract

Psychosis is a chronic recurrent neuropsychiatric disorder that impairs the quality of life of the individuals and represents a major public health issue. Poverty, unemployment, family instability, substance misuse and obstetric complications are the major risk factors for the rising cases of psychotic illnesses in Nigeria. However, the traditional African people still believe that the disease is due to supernatural forces at work against the mental wellbeing of the individuals and as such cure cannot be found through modern medicines. Thus, the management of the illness is mostly carried out in traditional healing centers and prayer houses without any proper regard for the human rights of the patients. The absence of comprehensive mental healthcare policy also contributes to the maltreatments and sufferings of these patients in Nigeria. Thus, this mini-review highlights the challenges facing the management of patients with psychotic disorder in Nigeria and the need for the development of comprehensive mental health policies that will specifically address these issues.