The psychometric characteristics of the 4-item Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) as a screening tool in a non-clinical sample of Nigerian university students.

This study examined Emotional Intelligence, Locus of control and Conflict Handling Skills as Predictors of non-violent behaviours among University Students in South-Western Nigeria. The population was all the Nigerian University Students in the South-Western Nigerian out of which a sample of 1,000 participants were selected using the simple random sampling technique. Three research questions were raised. The instruments used to collect data were: (i) Emotional and social competency inventory by Goleman D. (2007); (ii) The internal control index by Duttweilar, P.C (1984); (iii) Conflict Handling Behaviour Rating scale by Hameed A. (2002). The instruments were administered at the four Universities used for the study while Multiple Regression Analysis and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used to analyse the data at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there was a significant relationship between each of the independent valuables. There was a joint effect of the independent variables on non-violent behaviour of the students. Also, there was a contribution of each of the independent variables to the prediction of non-violent behaviour among the students. Deaths and injuries from students' crisis or violent behaviour constitute a major public health problem in many institutions and parts of the world. Significant variation in the magnitude of this problem exists within and between countries and regions of the world. Over the years, a lot of measures, preventions and strategies have been learnt and put in place to identify the causes of students' crises in Nigerian universities. Scientific evidences on the pattern and causes of the crisis both qualitative and quantitative is on the increase yearly. For instance, 20-40 victims of students crisis receives treatment from various hospitals yearly in Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Jamaica, Johannesburg, South Africa, Kenya, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Mozambique and Nigeria (WHO, 2010). Similarly, studies conducted by World Health Organization, WHO (2009) in Jamaica, Kenya and Mozambique show a high rate of violent behaviour in universities where students used fire arms, knives, clubs, stones, firsts and feet to attack security agents, colleaques and university authorities. In a study conducted by WHO, 2009 in Orebro, Sweden using 1,000 young males who displayed violent behaviour up to age 26 years had already scored highly for aggressiveness at the ages of 10 and 13 years. In a study in Columbia, United States in 2010 by WHO, it was found that 59% of the university students' arrested for violent offences between age 18 years were reported as adults and 42% of these were charge for serious crimes. In Nigeria, students' revolutionary behaviour has been a great concern, not only to university administrators but to parents, guardians and those concerned with the students' welfare. The Nigerian universities and other higher institutions of learning can hardly accomplish their missions as repositories of knowledge if they are constantly thrown into students' crisis. Some of the universities that witnessed students violent behaviours include: University of Ibadan, 1978, Ahmadu Bello University, 1981, University of Ife now Obafemi Awolowo University, Helfe, 1991, 2005, Bayero University Kano, 1981, University of Lagos, 1997, Lagos State University, 1998, Olabisi Onabanjo University, 2005 and host of others. Similarly, Taiwo (2004); Reza, Krug and Mercy (2001), Uduigwoman (2003), Nwosu and Odeyemi (1998) as well as Amakiri (1997) have in a related studies established that age, religion, sex as well as self efficacy and social competence constitute very important factors to be considered to prevent crisis in Nigeria tertiary institutions. This study therefore having consider the great effect of violent behaviour on the Nigerian universities, the university community, students and parents, examines the use of Emotional Intelligence, Locus of Control and Conflict Handling Skills as Predictors of non-violent behaviour among university students in South western Nigeria. …

The purpose of the study was to look into the relationship between work experience, ICT acceptance and employability among undergraduate students in North Eastern universities in Nigeria. The study also examines the mediating effect of self-efficacy among undergraduate students. The research sample was 264 which was also drawn among undergraduate students in North Eastern Nigeria. The result showed that work experience does not have a significant relationship with employability among undergraduate students in the universities. Likewise, ICT acceptance was shown to have a significant relationship with employability among undergraduate students in the universities. The results further showed that, both ICT acceptance and work experience have a significant relationship with self-efficacy and employability among undergraduate students in the universities. However, self-efficacy was found to mediate the relationship between ICT acceptance and employability among undergraduate students in the universities. Additionally, self-efficacy was found to have an indirect effect on the relationship between work experience and employability among undergraduate students in the universities. This study contributes to the body of knowledge since employability among undergraduate students in the region was under researched, consequently undertaking this study has shown a limelight to researches in the region.

The study investigated the perceived influence of counseling-driven value reorientation in addressing moral decadence among undergraduate students in universities in Benue State. The study adopted a survey research design. The population comprises 36,326 undergraduate students in public Universities in Benue State. The sample size for the study was 396 undergraduate students who were selected using proportionate stratified and accidental sampling techniques. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled “Counselling-Driven Value Reorientation and Moral Decadence Questionnaire” (CDVRMDQ). The questionnaire was validated by experts. The reliability of the questionnaire was established using Cronbach Alpha method which yielded a coefficient of 0.83. Data collected for the study were analyzed using Means and Standard Deviation to answer the research questions while Chi-Square Goodness of Fit was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study’s findings revealed that academic dishonesty, drug and substance abuse, sexual misconduct, criminal activities, examination malpractice, lack of civic responsibility, dishonesty, cultism, gang activity, among other issues, were the prevalent forms of moral decadence among undergraduates in public universities in Benue State. Furthermore, the key factors contributing to moral decadence were identified as peer influence, socioeconomic challenges, parental and family influence, inadequate counseling and guidance, academic pressure, and concerns related to unemployment, among others. Additionally, the study indicated that undergraduate students expressed a strong willingness to actively participate in counseling-driven value reorientation programs. Moreover, it was established that counseling-driven value reorientation programs had a perceived positive influence in addressing moral decadence among undergraduate students in universities within Benue State. In conclusion, the study emphasizes the significant role that counseling-driven value reorientation programs can play in addressing and mitigating moral decadence among undergraduate students in public universities located in Benue State. To address these concerns effectively, the study recommends that universities should integrate value reorientation and moral education as core courses within their curriculum, providing students with a robust foundation in ethics and civic responsibility. Furthermore, universities should continuously assess and adapt counseling-driven value reorientation programs to ensure their ongoing effectiveness in addressing moral decadence among undergraduate students.

Mood and anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in primary health care. In this study we assessed performance of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for screening of depression and anxiety disorders in a population of primary care patients. A total of 503 primary care patients consecutively admitted to the primary care medical center in Kaunas, Lithuania, completed the study. We found that the HADS subscale of depression (HADS-D) at a cutoff score of 6 or more showed the best performance screening for a major depressive episode diagnosed by means of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), with a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 69%, positive predictive value of 80%, negative predictive value of 92%, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.75. Performance of the HADS-D against MINI diagnosis of dysthymia was weak. The HADS subscale of anxiety (HADS-A) at a cutoff score of 9 or more showed the best performance screening for MINI diagnosis of overall anxiety disorders, with a sensitivity of 77%, specificity of 75%, positive predictive value of 53%, negative predictive value of 90%, and area under the ROC curve of 0.76. These results suggest that in primary care patients HADS is an adequate screening instrument for the MINI diagnoses of major depressive episode, but not for dysthymia at a cutoff score of 6, and for anxiety disorders at a cutoff score of 9.

Suicide is the third leading cause of death in college students, but there is limited consensual evidence to guide clinicians’ assessment and management of suicide. The aim of the current study was to assess the capability of a simple and practical measure, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) suicide item, to identify college students at high risk of suicide. Exploration of this research question could have important implications in this vulnerable population for identifying those at risk for suicide. Six-hundred-and-fifty-seven college students participated in a mental health screening and completed the BDI and the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R), which is a detailed measure of suicide risk. We dichotomized the BDI suicide item, which measures suicidal ideation within the past week (presence vs. absence of suicidal ideation) as well as the SBQ-R total score (low vs. high risk of suicide). We computed the kappa statistic for the examination of agreement between these two measures. The kappa coefficient for the BDI suicide item and the SBQ-R was 0.57 for dichotomized scores. The BDI suicide item had a positive predictive value of 74 %, and a negative predictive value of 93 %. In a hierarchical linear regression, the BDI suicide item alone significantly predicted elevated scores on the SBQ-R [Chi square (1) = 128.427, p < 0.001]. These results suggest that affirmative responses on the single BDI suicide item indicate elevated suicide risk. However this single item screening approach will miss some at-risk students.

Background : Menarche is one of the signals of a woman’s transition from childhood to adulthood. Abnormal menstrual pattern could cause morbidities that may disrupt daily activities. Aim : To assess the pattern of menstrual disorders and impact on the quality of life among university students in South-Western Nigeria. Subjects and Methods : This descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out among 494 university students in South-Western Nigeria, selected using multistage sampling method. Research instruments were semi-structured, self-administered, and pretested questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software, version 17.0 (Chicago, IL, USA). Results : Mean age at menarche was 13.6 (1.1) years. About 89.1% (440/494) were aware or foretold of the coming of menarche. Major sources of information include parents, relatives, friends, and health care workers. About 82.8% (409/494) had regular monthly menstrual flow pattern, 21.9% (108/494) had menorrhagia, 16.0% (79/494) had oligomenorrhea, 9.1% (45/494) had polymenorrhea, while 65.8% (325/494) had occasional associated dysmenorrhea. About 10.7% (53/494) had treated dysmenorrhea in a health facility in the last 1 year. Menstruation usually puts tension on 46.2% (228/494) of respondents, disrupted work at school in 38.9% (192/494), and at home among 42.9% (212/494) of them, while it had prevented going to school for at least 1 day in the last 6 months among 15.6% (77/494) of respondents. Girls with irregular menstrual pattern were 1.4, 1.8, and 1.6 times more likely to have experienced pressure or lenition on them, had school work, and home work disrupted, respectively. Girls who were precounseled about menarche were twice less likely to have had disruptions of school activities compared to those who were not precounseled (odds ratio = 0.5, 05% confidence interval: 1.96–3.01, P = 0.01). Conclusion : This study demonstrated that menstrual disorders constitute a challenge to a significant percentage of adolescents. This also underscores the need for guided sexuality and menstrual related information targeted at youths. KEY WORDS : Menstruation, menarche, menstrual disorders, university students

We aimed to determine suicide risk and lifetime suicidal ideation in Parkinson disease (PD) patients versus controls and how depression, demoralization, and insomnia are associated with suicidality. In this case-control study, PD patients and matched controls were recruited from movement disorder clinics, Michael J. Fox Foundation, and Research Match websites. Suicide risk and suicidal ideation were assessed using the Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-revised (SBQ-R) and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Lifetime depression was assessed using the Brief Lifetime Depression Scale, sleep using Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), demoralization using Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research and Kissane Demoralization Scales, and non-motor symptoms using UPDRS Non-Motor Aspects of Experiences of Daily Living scale (nM-EDL). 186 PD participants and 177 controls were matched for age (64.2 ± 7.7years), sex (48.8% female), and socioeconomics. PD participants were not more likely than controls to have high suicide risk (SBQ-R ≥ 7) (7.5% vs. 11.3%; p = 0.22) or to have had a lifetime suicide plan or attempt (2.7% vs. 5.1%; p = 0.24), but were less likely to have had lifetime suicidal ideation (23.1% vs. 35.0%; p = 0.01). PD participants were more likely than controls to have lifetime depression history (34.4% vs. 20.9%; p = 0.004), and demoralization (19.9% vs. 10.7%; p = 0.02), and had higher ISI scores (8.7 ± 5.8 vs. 5.1 ± 4.5; p < 0.0001). PD patients with high versus normal suicide risk had higher nM-EDL scores (16.5 ± 6.8 vs. 10.7 ± 5.9; p = 0.002), and more demoralization (71.4% vs. 21.5%; p < 0.0001). Suicide risk is not elevated and suicidal ideation is uncommon in PD, despite the high prevalence of depression and demoralization.

To validate the emotion thermometer (ET) and hospital anxiety and depression scales (HADS) in Singapore, screening cancer patients for distress, anxiety and depression. Three hundred fifteen cancer patients from National Cancer Centre and Singapore General Hospital participated in the study. Interviews and assessments were conducted in English, assessing patients' sociodemographic data and screening for emotional symptoms using the ET, HADS and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) tools. Fifty-three patients (16.83%) fulfilled the MINI criteria for major depressive disorder and 30 patients (12.77%) for generalized anxiety disorder. The ET depression thermometer correlated positively with HADS depression subscale, r = 0.645 (P < 0.01), with area under curve (AUC) value being 0.76, when cutoff score is 3. The ET anxiety thermometer correlated positively with HADS anxiety subscale, r = 0.632 (P < 0.01), with an AUC value of 0.76, when cutoff score is 4. The ET distress thermometer correlated positively with HADS depression subscale, r = 0.506 (P < 0.01), with AUC value being 0.72, when cutoff score is 2, the ET distress thermometer also correlated positively with HADS anxiety subscale, r = 0.652 (P < 0.01), with the AUC value being 0.77, when cutoff score is 4. Using MINI diagnoses for anxiety and depression as the gold standard, cutoff score for HADS depression scale is 7, which yielded an AUC of 0.826. The cutoff score for HADS anxiety scale is 5, yielding an AUC of 0.779. Results from the study support the use of both ET and HADS as valid and reliable instruments assessing for distress, anxiety and depression in cancer patients.

Validity of the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) as a screening tool for depression amongst Nigerian university students

Globally, suicide is the most important cause of mortality among adolescents and young adults. The factor that correlates most significantly with suicide is hopelessness. The aim is to explore the psychometric adaptation of the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) as a suicide risk evaluation tool among Nigerian university students. A total of 554 Nigerian students completed the BHS and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). Suicide risk level among them was determined by interviewing them with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Suicidality module. Cronbach's alpha for the 16-item BHS was 0.87. It exhibited satisfactory concurrent validity with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Suicidality module and the subscales of the DASS among the students. The 2-factor model of the BHS-16 exhibited satisfactory indices of fitness (goodness of fit index = 0.930; parsimonious goodness of fit index = 0.601; comparative fit index = 0.934; incremental fit index = 0.936; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.910; root mean square error of approximation = 0.059; χ2/ df = 1.9). Receiver operating characteristics curve indicated that the best cutoff score for those categorized as high suicide risk was 7 (sensitivity 0.700, specificity 0.908, AUC = 0.897). The BHS has satisfactory psychometric properties as a suicide risk screening tool among Nigerian university students.

Past suicidal behaviors including ideation and attempts have been identified as significant risk factors for subsequent suicidal behavior. However, inadequate attention has been given to the development or validation of measures of past suicidal behavior. The present study examined the reliability and validity of a brief self-report measure of past suicidal behavior, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). Participants included psychiatric inpatient adolescents, high school students, psychiatric inpatient adults, and undergraduates. Logistic regression analyses provided empirical support for the usefulness of the SBQ-R as a risk measure of suicide to differentiate between suicide-risk and nonsuicidal study participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicated that the most useful cutoff scores on the SBQ-R were 7 for nonsuicidal samples, and 8 for clinical samples. Both the single SBQ-R Item 1 and SBQ-R total scores are recommended for use in clinical and nonclinical settings.

Diagnostic accuracy of self-rating scales for screening of depression in coronary artery disease patients

Screening for depression in acute coronary syndrome patients: A comparison of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 versus Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale-Depression

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to discuss the needs and the information utilization patterns of periodical literature amongst the pre‐final and final year undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. As a result, the study attempts to solve the following problems: What are the information needs of undergraduate students in relation to periodical literature? How do they go about seeking such information needed in periodical literature? How do they make valuable use of the information available to them in such periodical literature? What should the university libraries do to meet the information needs of these students in relation to periodical literature?Design/methodology/approachThe researcher aimed at studying periodical literature use by the pre‐final and final year undergraduate students in Nigerian universities. It is impossible to sample the entire population hence a cross‐sectional descriptive Survey design was employed as the most suitable because the population under study was fairly large and heterogeneous. A questionnaire was designed to know the attitude, interest and value of the pre‐final and final year undergraduate students. In order to have an accurate assessment, questionnaire was designed and distributed to collect vital information from the undergraduate students. Also, observation and direct oral interviews were also employed to supplement the information provided through the questionnaires collected.FindingsFindings show that 70 per cent respondents used the library once every week, undergraduate students need and utilize periodical literature materials for their information needs, the general purpose of using periodical literature was mainly for research among others.Originality/valueUseful in determining the periodical use by students as well as assisting serials librarian in planning.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to assess the level of psychological distress of offenders newly brought into prison custody in a Nigerian prison and investigate the relationship with socio-demographic and penal characteristics.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional study involving 236 new prison entrants who were assessed for psychological distress using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).FindingsA total of 267 prison inmates were newly brought to prison custody over a three-month period. Out of this, 236 (88.4 per cent) of them participated in the study. Majority of the inmates were males 225 (95.3 per cent), awaiting-trial inmates 208 (88.1 per cent), single 144 (61 per cent), Christian 224 (94.9 per cent), first time offenders 218 (92.4 per cent) and charged with violent offences 136 (57.6 per cent). Majority of the inmates scored above cut-off points on the GHQ-12 and the HADS. In total, 157 (66.5 per cent) on HADS anxiety subscale, 201 (85.2 per cent) on HADS depression subscale and 199 (84.3 per cent) on GHQ-12. Significant relationship was observed between GHQ-12 “caseness”, prison category and type of offence. Prison situation and type of offence were significantly associated with HADS depression subscale, whereas age was associated with HADS anxiety subscale.Research limitations/implicationsSome limitations were encountered in the course of the study. First, the study relied on self-report questionnaires for collection of data. Second, information given by the respondents could neither be corroborated by family members, who were not present during the interview, nor by the officers and men of the Nigeria Prisons Service, who knew little or nothing about the respondents. Participants in this study had spent maximum of three days in prison during the interview, thus certain levels of distress within three days after incarceration may not entail “caseness” in the sense of the presence of a psychiatric disorder. Therefore assessment over a longer period is needed.Practical implicationsScreening prison inmates on reception into prison custody provides a vista of opportunity to identify mental health problems and socio-demographic and forensic correlates of psychological distress among new entrants into prison custody. This will facilitate early identification and management of prison inmates with health needs. Health screening on reception will also help in identifying the various penal or forensic characteristics of prison inmates, which will be put into consideration during selection of appropriate rehabilitation and reformation activities that best fit a particular prison inmate. Early screening of prison inmates upon reception in the prison will also help in identifying prison inmates who have high risk of suicide and self-harm, thus preventing cases of death that may arise as a result of these mental health problems. Findings from this study will also enrich the body of knowledge on mental health problems of prison inmates entering the prison; this will also help the criminal justice system in decision making, especially with emphasis on psychological evaluation of prison inmates before dispensing judgment. On the part of the prison authority, the prison inmates identified to have psychological distress and some forensic characteristics can be properly classified, and kept in cells that will not aggravate their distress. Finally, this is the first study of prison inmates on reception into Enugu Maximum Security Prison, Enugu State Nigeria. The implication of this is that findings from this research will form a baseline on which further research on prison inmates upon reception in the prison can be conducted.Originality/valueThis study demonstrated that prison inmates are faced with high level of psychological distress during their early days in prison, and that some socio-demographic and forensic variables had significant association with psychological distress as itemised in Tables III and IV. Therefore, screening new inmates on prison reception will help in early identification and treatment of vulnerable groups. This will also help in proper classification and allocation into appropriate cells of prison inmates by the prison authority.