Schizophrenic symptoms resolution and its predictors among people living with schizophrenia receiving inpatient treatment in a Nigerian neuropsychiatric hospital
Aminu A. Biambo , Aliyu Samaila , Nuruddeen Usman , Ummulkulsum D. Abubakar , Badamasi S. Nuhu , Sadiq A. Hussaini , Saida S. Mansur , Adebayo S. Adebisi
1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria
2Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida Specialists Hospital Minna, Nigeria
3Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kware – Sokoto, Nigeria
Corresponding author: Aminu A. Biambo
Email: biambo.aminu@udusok.edu.ng; Phone: +2348065268340
ABSTRACT
Background: Keeping track of the therapeutic response and its predictors among schizophrenic patients requires periodic evaluation of their symptoms.
Objectives: To evaluate the resolution of symptoms and its predictors among schizophrenic inpatients receiving treatment in Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Kware – Sokoto.
Methods: Using a prospective longitudinal design, all the 172 patients admitted between June and November 2017 who met the inclusion criteria for this study were evaluated for psychiatric symptoms. The instrument used was the validated Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Data were collected at different time intervals and analysed for descriptive, ANOVA, and logistic regression statistics at p<0.05.
Results: The average age of the patients was 35.3±12.7 years. Their baseline overall symptoms score was 73.0±24.6. The percentage of symptoms resolution after 2-weeks and 4-weeks of treatment were, 46.2±16.0% and 71.0±14.7%, respectively. After the 4-weeks, 97(56.4%) of the patients had good symptoms resolution (>70%). Multivariate logistic regression model shows that patients with predominantly negative symptoms had their odds of having good symptom resolution significantly reduced by 53.5% (OR=0.465, p=0.030) while every unit increase in baseline score significantly decreases the odds by 2% (OR=0.980, p=0.008). The difference in type or class of neuroleptic agent had no significant effect in overall symptoms resolution after 4-weeks.
Conclusion: Most of the patients achieved good symptom resolution after four weeks of therapy. Negative symptoms and higher disease severity at baseline are the predictors of poor symptoms resolution. Caregivers should consider this finding in designing a care plan for schizophrenic patients to improve their outcomes.
KeyWords: Pharmacotherapy; predictors; schizophrenia; symptoms resolution; symptom rating scale; treatment