PSYCHIATRIC PATTERNS OF TANZANIAN STUDENTS

Abstract

Because of the part they will play in the future of the country students' health must have high priority, and especial attention should be directed toward those students with psychiatric symptoms. In this retrospective survey the students were identified from 816 consecutive out-patient first attenders and from 950 consecutive in-patient admissions to the Psychiatric Unit of Muhimbili Hospital in D a r es Salaam. The students comprise 14% of the out-patient sample and 5 % of the in-patients. In analyzing the symptoms and complaints of the out-patients, it was found that male patients nearly always present somatic complaints, usually with complaints of impaired memory and poor oncentration. Less commonly they complain of insomnia, perceptual disorders and depression. The women were more prone to phobic and hysterical symptoms. Alcoholism, drug abuse, sexual problems or suicidal tendencies did not emerge as being of serious proportions. The in-patients studied were mostly schizophrenic, and there was a degree of chronicity in at least one half who had more than one admission to the Psychiatric Unit. The symptom pattern was quite different from that of the out- atients. It is important for medical practioners to realize the frequency with which somatic symptoms are a result of social or psychological stress, especially in a student population.