Demographic characteristics and medication profiles among schizophrenic patients

Dissertant

al-Amin, Wafa Abd al-Hamid M.

Thesis advisor

Mustafa, Asim Faruq
Haydar, Uthman

Comitee Members

Qamar al-Din, al-Tayyib Muhammad al-Tayyib
Muhammad, Abd al-Wahhab Hasan
Abd al-Majid, Muna Abd al-Munim Muhammad

University

Omdurman Islamic University

Faculty

Faculty of Pharmacy

University Country

Sudan

Degree

Master

Degree Date

2010

English Abstract

The study dealt with the attitudes of schizophrenic patients towards their sickness as regards to medications prescribed, medication compliance, regularity and proper administration of the prescribed drugs and the appearance of adverse drug reactions.

The study subjects were schizophrenic patients, (139 old patients who were diagnosed and already on medication, and 100 new cases who were diagnosed but did not yet start their medication) ; all patients were followed for 16 months through 13 visits.

In the first part of the study, demographic characteristics of the sampled cases were investigated, and involved the following aspects : Slight differences were seen between the two groups.

Females were fewer than males; they constituted almost 32% (76) of the total number of patients.

Ages of hundred patients (42%) fell within the age group (26-35 years).

Almost 174 patients (73 %) of all came from urban areas.

About 21% (50) of the total number of patients was married, whereas 10 % (24) were either divorced or widowed.

Most of the patients' parents (65%, 155) were relatives of the first degree, and they in turn might pass their psychological illnesses, mainly depression and schizophrenia, to their off-springs.

About 44% (105) of the affected family members were relatives of the first or second degree to the cases, and might also inherit systemic organic diseases.

Socio-economical factors have proved to be behind the irregularity practiced by 41% (57) of the patients in medication compliance.

Most (95%, 227) of the patients were Muslims.

The disease was scattered more among highly educated population, namely secondary and university graduates (152, 64%).

Laborers constituted almost 20% (46) of occupations ; however, the highest number of patients (90, 38%) was those who had never worked before.

Most (128, 54%) of the patients had instable monthly incomes.

About 177 patients (74%) practiced some hobbies.

Alcohol (48, 20%) and narcotics (47, 20%) use was limited, while snuff-use (91, 38%) and smoking (81, 34%) were more common among the patients.

In the second part of the study, medication profiles of the sampled cases were examined and involved the following observations : Three anti-schizophrenic drugs, namely olanzapine, haloperidol and risperidone, were the commonest drugs used by the subjects of the study.

Olanzapine was used by almost 65% (73) of the total number of patients, mainly in 5-mg tablet form twice daily.

Haloperidol was used by 73 % (79) of the patients in both tablet and injection forms ; and 71 % (72) of the patients were using risperidone in the form of tablets.

Fluphenazine, zuclopenthixol, flupentixol, chlorpromazine, clozapine, cinnarizine and thioridazine were found to be used by very small numbers of patients.

Other drugs which were used by the patients included : anti-parkinsonian, antihistaminic, anti-allergic and sedative, and mood stabilizer drugs, and rarely anxiolytic and anti-depressant drugs.

The number of patients who came to the medication follow-up interviews was taking a descending order throughout the 13 visits over 16 months.

Most of the patients (82% of the old and 90% of the new patients) were using a single antipsychotic drug; but fewer patients were using more than one anti-schizophrenic agent whether typical or atypical.

Fewer patients (31% of the old and 38% of the new patients) have used anti-cholinergic drugs.

Only 43 (18%) patients of both groups were complaining of adverse effects, and they consulted their doctors.

Thirty two per cent (67) of the total number of patients received ECT ; most (55%, 42) of them had it for more than 3 sessions.

About 60% of patients had been treated by spiritual healers.

Medication compliance was satisfactory among both groups of patients.

The outcome of the medications used by the patients was quite encouraging ; the majority of the patients were observed and followed up or given their medication by others, mainly relatives.

The third part of the study examined the correlation by cross-tabulation of some demographic and medication variables of the sampled cases ; Pearson Chi Square Analysis was used to test association between the variables, and involved the following findings : Association was not established between patients’ compliance and any of the following variables: age, gender, educational status, most social habits, stability of monthly income, patients’ suffering from any problems, patients’ hobbies, and patients’ marital status.

Correlation was established between the following pairs : patients’ compliance vs.

outcome of medication ; outcome of medication vs.

number of anti-schizophrenic drugs used by patients ; appearance of adverse effects vs.

number of anti- schizophrenic drugs used by patients ; and appearance of adverse effects vs.

use of anti-cholinergic drugs used by patients.

Main Subjects

Medicine

Topics

• Patients
• Probability theory
• Schizophrenia
• Mentally ill persosns

No. of Pages

178

Table of Contents

• APA
• MLA
• AMA

Language

English

Data Type

Arab Theses

Record ID

BIM-364917