Epidemiological, Clinical and Therapeutic Aspects of Schizoaffective Disorder at the CHU-Campus of Lomé (Togo)

Abstract

Introduction: Schizoaffective disorder is a chronic psychotic disorder. It is characterized by the simultaneous presence of symptoms of a characterized mood disorder and symptoms of schizophrenia. Data on this disorder are almost non-existent in West Africa. The objective was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of schizoaffective disorder at the Campus University Hospital Centre (CHU-Campus) of Lomé in Togo. Framework and Method: This was a retrospective study with a descriptive aim on patients hospitalized at the Clinic of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology (CPPM) of CHU-Campus from January 1st, 2013 to December 31, 2018. Results: A total of 46 patients were included in this study. Their mean age was 39.5 years with extremes ranging from 14 to 65 years. Females had predominated at 52.18% or a sex ratio of 0.91. Married people represented 47.83%. Primary education represented 34.80%. The unemployed were in the majority at 32.92%. Sixty-five point twenty two percent (65.22%) of the patients had a personal psychiatric history. All patients had presented with delusions plus other psychotic and mood symptoms. Almost all patients (97.82%) had received a thymoregulator associated with a first generation antipsychotic (95.65%). Conclusion: More studies should be done in our countries to describe the cultural aspects of this disease.