Patterns of psychotropic drug use in a Nigerian Psychiatric outpatient clinic.

The prescription pattern of clinicians in a Nigerian psychiatric outpatient clinic was studied. The three major psychiatric disorders diagnosed at the centre were schizophrenia, affective disorders and psychoses associated with other cerebral conditions. The schizophrenics were treated essentially with neuroleptics in different combinations. Also, combinations of neuroleptics and antidepressants were employed in the few cases diagnosed as schizo-affective disorders. As for the cases of affective disorders, combination of neuroleptics and antidepressants was found to be the pattern. The reasons for this pattern of treatment were discussed. The average maintenance neuroleptic dose per day was 300 mg while those of the tricyclic antidepressants was 88 mg. In as much as psychopharmacotherapy is widely employed in treating the various psychiatric disorders in African countries, especially Nigeria, the need for more information on psychotropic drugs through training courses was suggested.