Abstract
Depressive disorders are significant public health issues. They are prevalent, disabling, and often chronic, with a high economic burden to the society. The increase in occurrences of depression is a threat to families as it leads to broken homes, broken relationships (marriages) and even loss of job which in turn affects the economy. The objective of the study is to determine the prevalence of depression among female patients in a psychiatric hospital in Benin City, Nigeria. A retrospective descriptive design was employed in this study. Past records were reviewed from between January 2013 and December 2014. Respondents’ informations were used for descriptive analysis. Graphs, table and chart were then developed to explain the findings more clearly. The study showed that the depression in female patients occurred high in aged between 30-40 years, and in married women. Depression is also shown to be more prevalent amongst female patients who have had no formal education and those who are Christians. Conclusively, an increase in rate of depression was noticed hence there is need for public enlightenment on the causes of depression and how to manage it.
Highlights
Depression is an affective or mood disorder with a retardation of mental, physical and social activities, characterized by loss of interest, lack of energy and pessimism (Melinda et al, 2016)
The mean age range falls between [30-39] years. Those that fall within this age range represent 37% of the entire depressed females admitted in the hospital. 24% of the depressed females are less than 30 years old, 24% are between the ages of 40 to years while 13% are within the age range of to years and only 2% are years and above
Out of the 164 female depressed patients in a psychiatric hospital, 34% are single, 37% are married while 30% are separated/divorced
Summary
Depression is an affective or mood disorder with a retardation of mental, physical and social activities, characterized by loss of interest, lack of energy and pessimism (Melinda et al, 2016). Depression is characterized by psychomotor retardation, profound decrease in physical, social and mental activities, a feeling of uneasiness, which exceeds in duration and intensity beyond normal reaction (Koshy, 2008). It is an illness in which there are thought to be changes in the chemistry of the brain. Depression can run in families, and when it does, it generally starts between the ages of 15 and 30 (Kessler, 2005). A recent World Health Assembly called on the World Health Organization and its member states to take action on this direction (WHO, 2012)
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