Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue
Abstract Background Adolescents do present with somatization disorder which is often neglected by pediatricians. This could have serious consequences if not curbed early. Objectives This study is aimed at determining the pattern and types of Somatization disorder among adolescents attending secondar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-09-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-017-0161-3 |
| _version_ | 1818021522132959232 |
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| author | A. R. C. Nwokocha J. M. Chinawa V. Onukwuli A. Ubesie Appolos Ndukuba A. T. Chinawa Elias Aniwada Samuel Uwaezuoke |
| author_facet | A. R. C. Nwokocha J. M. Chinawa V. Onukwuli A. Ubesie Appolos Ndukuba A. T. Chinawa Elias Aniwada Samuel Uwaezuoke |
| author_sort | A. R. C. Nwokocha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Adolescents do present with somatization disorder which is often neglected by pediatricians. This could have serious consequences if not curbed early. Objectives This study is aimed at determining the pattern and types of Somatization disorder among adolescents attending secondary schools in south east Nigeria. Methods Somatization disorder was investigated among 485 adolescents from mixed schools using a stratified random sampling of adolescents from four secondary schools in southeast Nigeria. The Enugu somatization scale was used to evaluate for presence of somatization in the participants. Statistical analysis was with statistical package for social sciences (SPPS) version 19 (Chicago IL). Results A total of 485 adolescents aged 10–19 years were included in this study. The mean age of the respondents was 16.36 with standard deviation (SD) of 3.14 years. Two hundred and fifty-one (51.8%) had head features, 262 (54.0%) had body features, 303 (62.5%) had either head or body features while 210 (43.3%) had both head and body features. One hundred and thirty-four males (51.3%) compared to 117 females (52.2%) reported symptoms consistent with head symptoms (p = 0.038). One hundred and eleven males (42.5%) compared to 99 females (44.2) reported symptoms related to the head and body (p = 0.137) while 135 males (51.7%) compared to 127 females (56.7%) reported symptoms related to the body (p = 0.925). There were significant associations of age in categories with head, body, either head or body as well as both head and body features (all p value <0.001). Conclusions Psychosomatic problems do exist and may be on the rise among adolescents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-14T08:19:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5973525fa86c442daf34092f02acd5f9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1752-4458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-14T08:19:20Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Mental Health Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-5973525fa86c442daf34092f02acd5f92022-12-22T02:04:16ZengBMCInternational Journal of Mental Health Systems1752-44582017-09-011111710.1186/s13033-017-0161-3Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issueA. R. C. Nwokocha0J. M. Chinawa1V. Onukwuli2A. Ubesie3Appolos Ndukuba4A. T. Chinawa5Elias Aniwada6Samuel Uwaezuoke7Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Department of Community Medicine, ESUT Teaching HospitalDepartment Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, University of Nigeria/Teaching Hospital (UNTH)Abstract Background Adolescents do present with somatization disorder which is often neglected by pediatricians. This could have serious consequences if not curbed early. Objectives This study is aimed at determining the pattern and types of Somatization disorder among adolescents attending secondary schools in south east Nigeria. Methods Somatization disorder was investigated among 485 adolescents from mixed schools using a stratified random sampling of adolescents from four secondary schools in southeast Nigeria. The Enugu somatization scale was used to evaluate for presence of somatization in the participants. Statistical analysis was with statistical package for social sciences (SPPS) version 19 (Chicago IL). Results A total of 485 adolescents aged 10–19 years were included in this study. The mean age of the respondents was 16.36 with standard deviation (SD) of 3.14 years. Two hundred and fifty-one (51.8%) had head features, 262 (54.0%) had body features, 303 (62.5%) had either head or body features while 210 (43.3%) had both head and body features. One hundred and thirty-four males (51.3%) compared to 117 females (52.2%) reported symptoms consistent with head symptoms (p = 0.038). One hundred and eleven males (42.5%) compared to 99 females (44.2) reported symptoms related to the head and body (p = 0.137) while 135 males (51.7%) compared to 127 females (56.7%) reported symptoms related to the body (p = 0.925). There were significant associations of age in categories with head, body, either head or body as well as both head and body features (all p value <0.001). Conclusions Psychosomatic problems do exist and may be on the rise among adolescents.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-017-0161-3Psychosomatic disorderAdolescentsSecondary schoolsNigeria |
| spellingShingle | A. R. C. Nwokocha J. M. Chinawa V. Onukwuli A. Ubesie Appolos Ndukuba A. T. Chinawa Elias Aniwada Samuel Uwaezuoke Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue International Journal of Mental Health Systems Psychosomatic disorder Adolescents Secondary schools Nigeria |
| title | Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue |
| title_full | Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue |
| title_fullStr | Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue |
| title_full_unstemmed | Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue |
| title_short | Somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast Nigeria: a neglected issue |
| title_sort | somatization disorder among adolescents in southeast nigeria a neglected issue |
| topic | Psychosomatic disorder Adolescents Secondary schools Nigeria |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13033-017-0161-3 |
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