Theses and Dissertations (Psychiatry)

Prevalence of hypertension and associated factors amongst chronic psychiatric patients on antipsychotics at Thabamoopo Hospital, Capricorn District, Limpopo

2025-09-12T01:00:26Z

Prevalence of hypertension and associated factors amongst chronic psychiatric patients on antipsychotics at Thabamoopo Hospital, Capricorn District, Limpopo Phalane, Mmakoma Mary The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors amongst chronic psychiatric patients at Thabamoopo Hospital. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study which involved clinical record reviews of 287 patients. Most of the patients were male, single, unemployed with a secondary level of education. Schizophrenia, substance-related disorders, and Intellectual Disability Disorder were the most common psychiatric disorders. The prevalence rate of hypertension was 30,1%, with a strong association with older age, a longer duration of admission, schizophrenia, and being overweight. Diabetes mellitus prevalence was high (22.7%). Risperdal was the commonest antipsychotic prescribed, with olanzapine and clozapine being prescribed less. Sodium Valproate was the most prescribed non-antipsychotic medication. The conclusion is that the findings indicate that the association between hypertension and diabetes mellitus, older age, and long periods of admission indicate that interventions need to be put into place to address and minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with hypertension Thesis (M. Med. (Psychiatry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2025

Prevalence and characteristics of offenders with intellectual disability referred for forensic observations at Thabamoopo Hospital, Limpopo

2025-02-01T01:00:24Z

Prevalence and characteristics of offenders with intellectual disability referred for forensic observations at Thabamoopo Hospital, Limpopo Matlou, Malesela Simon The purpose of this study was to determine IDD (Intellectual Developmental Disorder) prevalence and associated characteristics of offenders referred to Thabamoopo Hospital for forensic mental observation from January 2016 to December 2018. Thereafter, quantitative, descriptive research was conducted to determine the offenders’ profiles, the types of offences they had committed and their forensic outcomes. Data collection was conducted using a structured data collection form. Offenders with IDD were 88 (23.3%). All were male, mostly aged between 21 and 29 years, single and unemployed. The majority (65, 9%) had Mild IDD. Psychometric tests were used to diagnose IDD in 78% of the offenders. Medical comorbidities were present in 11% of the cases. Offenders with mild IDD (68%) were found to be using one or more substances, with alcohol the commonest. There was no statistical significant relationship between the nature of the offences and the severity of the IDD (p > 0.05). Rape, murder and assault GBH were the commonest alleged offences. Of the rape case, 66% were committed by offenders with mild IDD. Forty-seven per cent of the offenders were found not fit to stand trial and not criminally responsible, with the usual recommendation that they must be admitted to psychiatric hospitals for care, treatment and rehabilitation. This also implied that 53% of the offenders with IDD would follow normal court proceedings, with the possible outcome of being incarcerated in correctional facilities or being acquitted. It is therefore necessary to consider strategies to help reduce offending behaviour amongst individuals with IDD, minimize the undesirable consequences of offending amongst the individuals with IDD and to re-integrate them back to society. Thesis (M. Med. (Psychiatry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2024

Prevalence of substance use among patients with mental illness at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province

2024-09-13T01:00:11Z

Prevalence of substance use among patients with mental illness at Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province Moloto, Motsei Melford Background: Substance use among mentally ill patients remains a major public health concern worldwide. In recent years there has been growing awareness that patients with mental illness have a higher risk of developing substance use than the general population. Substance use among these individuals often compromises the therapeutic effects of medications, leading to multiple relapses, hospital admissions, poor quality of life and an increased burden of care on limited state resources Aim: To determine the prevalence of substance use with its associated factors among patients with mental illness admitted to Mankweng Hospital, Limpopo Province. Method: A retrospective, quantitative and descriptive study has been conducted. This study is a clinical record review of patients admitted to Mankweng Hospital from June 1, 2016, to May 31, 2017. Data collection was carried out over a period of one month (October 2019) by the researcher. A structured data collection tool was used to collect the data. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22). Frequencies, percentage and mean and standard deviation were used to interpret the data. For continuous and categorical variables, student t-test and Pearson Chi-square were used to test for associations between substance use and different mental disorders. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and ten psychiatric patients participated in this study. Of these, most (66%) were male and only 34% were female. The most common mental disorders were schizophrenia (25%), substance induced psychotic disorder (19%), bipolar disorder (18%), schizoaffective disorder (13%) and psychotic disorder due to another medical condition (8%). Slightly more than half (53%) (n=112) of the patients had a history of substance use. More non-Christians, than Christians, used substances (69% versus 44%, p<0.05). Seventy-five percent of males and 11% females had a history of using substances of abuse. There was no statistically significant association between age, marital status, employment status, level of education and use of the substances (p>0.05). Conclusion: There was a significantly high prevalence of substance use among the male gender. This study shows a higher prevalence of substance use among individuals diagnosed with substance induced psychotic disorders than other disorders. The findings of this study correlate with many studies, both globally and locally. The differences lie in the exact percentages; however, the high prevalence is a common factor. Patients with mental illness need to be actively screened for substance use; early intervention for co-morbid substance use will help reduce morbidity Thesis (M.Med. (Psychiatry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2023

Outcomes of forensic psychiatric observation among alleged sexual offenders referred to Thabamoopo Hospital, Limpopo

2022-09-08T01:00:20Z

Outcomes of forensic psychiatric observation among alleged sexual offenders referred to Thabamoopo Hospital, Limpopo Ngwenya, Thembani Advocate BACKGROUND: The challenge of sexual offence crimes against women and children is notably increasing worldwide with an accompanying impact on the mental and physical well-being of the victims and society, in general. Despite the impact, sexual offenders remain a complex group, not well studied in forensic psychiatry settings globally. Previous studies identify psychosocial factors and mental illness associated with sexual offending. Adequate care, treatment and rehabilitation of sexual offenders are crucial to reduce the impact of sexual offence and re-offending. AIMS: To determine the demographic variations, clinical factors, and observation outcomes in terms of diagnosis, fitness to stand trial, and criminal responsibility among the alleged sexual offenders referred to Thabamoopo Hospital. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of mental disorders among alleged sexual offenders, to determine the number of offenders fit or unfit to stand trial and who are criminal or not criminally responsible, to determine factors associated with vulnerability to sexual offending behaviour. METHOD: This study is based on a review of clinical records and files and psychiatrists' observation reports of all alleged sexual offenders referred by the courts for forensic psychiatric observation between the period January 2015 to December 2018 at Thabamoopo Hospital. RESULTS: The sample consists of 94 participants, only one female; all were black Africans. The majority were in middle adulthood, unemployed, of a lower level of education and not married. All participants had been charged with rape. A large number of the alleged sexual offenders were diagnosed with mental conditions. The most common diagnoses were Intellectual disability disorders, psychotic disorders and substance-related disorders. More than half of the sample was fit to stand trial and criminally responsible. CONCLUSION: More than half of the participants charged with rape were found fit to stand trial and to be criminally responsible. A significant number were diagnosed with mental illness. The outcomes of being unfit to stand trial and not being criminally responsible were common among mentally ill sexual offenders. The results signify that this group of offenders needs adequate psychiatric care, treatment and rehabilitation in order to reduce sexual offending and re-offending due to the impact of mental illness. Thesis (M. Medicine (Psychiatry)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022