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HOW KENYAN PHYSICIANS TREAT PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Abstract
Objectives: To determine the psychological problems the non-psychiatric doctors commonly
encounter, the treatment offered and/or referrals made and to determine any obstacles met
in providing psychiatric treatment or making referrals.
Design: Cross- sectional survey.
Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Subjects: Doctors working at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Resullts: The hundred and thirty (94 males and 36 females) doctors subm '*" ' usable
questionnaires. Seventy eight per cent of the respondents were below 35 years and 57 hadless
than five years experience. 'The commonest psychiatric disorders seen by doctors were
anxiety, depression, psychosomatic disorders and organic psychoses similar to findings in
previous prevalence studies. Drugs therapy with anxiolytics antidepressants and
antipsychotics were commonly utiiised. Brief counselling u as the verbal form of treatment
most commonly used. Referral to mental health workers was less often done. Obstacles cited
by the doctors were the patients' resistance to referral, lack of coordination and insufficient
knowledge to treat the disorders.
Conclusion: The doctors recognise that psychiatric disorders are common among their
patients but they have ma,jor obstacles in managing them. 'These findings are discussed and
remedial measures suggested.
encounter, the treatment offered and/or referrals made and to determine any obstacles met
in providing psychiatric treatment or making referrals.
Design: Cross- sectional survey.
Setting: Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya.
Subjects: Doctors working at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Resullts: The hundred and thirty (94 males and 36 females) doctors subm '*" ' usable
questionnaires. Seventy eight per cent of the respondents were below 35 years and 57 hadless
than five years experience. 'The commonest psychiatric disorders seen by doctors were
anxiety, depression, psychosomatic disorders and organic psychoses similar to findings in
previous prevalence studies. Drugs therapy with anxiolytics antidepressants and
antipsychotics were commonly utiiised. Brief counselling u as the verbal form of treatment
most commonly used. Referral to mental health workers was less often done. Obstacles cited
by the doctors were the patients' resistance to referral, lack of coordination and insufficient
knowledge to treat the disorders.
Conclusion: The doctors recognise that psychiatric disorders are common among their
patients but they have ma,jor obstacles in managing them. 'These findings are discussed and
remedial measures suggested.
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