Delusional Content, self-esteem, assertiveness and illness factors as predictors of relapse rate among Schizophrenic patients in Southwest Nigeria

This study was carried out to identify predictors of relapse rate among schizophrenia patients in Souht-West Nigeria. Eighty-one clinical outpatients with the DSM-IV, DSM-II-R and DSM-III diagnoses of schizophrenia from Adeoyo state Hospital, Ibadan, New world specialist hospital, Molete, Ibadan, optimum psychiatric Hospital, Akure, Ondo State Neuropsyciatric Hospital, Akure, and Federal Neuropsychaitric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, all in southwest Nigeria, participated in the study. Data were collected using the index of self-esteem (ISE) to measure the self perceived and self-evaluative components of self-concept for individuals above 12 years of age and a scale assessing individual level of assertive behaviour or social boldness and Rathus assertiveness schedule(RAS). Using t-test, it was discovered that Schizophrenic patients who are more assertive significantly report higher relapse rate than schizophrenic patients who are less assertive (t(59)=-2.24, p<.o5), while schizophrenic patients' level of self-esteem do not differ significantly on their relapse rate [t(59)=-0.33, p>.05]. Self-esteem and assertiveness need to be specifically targeted, this can be done through governmental agencies by creating an Assertive Community Treatment programme (ACT) in SouthWest Nigeria which will be a community based mental health service, to minimize or prevent recurrent relapses, enhance quality of life, improve social and occupational functioning and reduce hospital readmission rates