An Assessment of the Nurses' Perspectives on Relapse Prevention in Psychiatric Patients

The study was carried out to assess the Nurses’ Perspectives on Relapse Prevention in Psychiatric Patients in Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital. Investigation revealed that the mentally sick people constitute nuisance since their consciousness is affected, this is why they need treatment and rehabilitation but the Nigerian situation is quite different as government and the family unit have not done much towards their rehabilitation since many mentally sick persons are not taken care of but allowed to become vagrants. The research design used in this report is descriptive design, utilizing questionnaire method to obtain information from the respondents for this project. Primary data were collected from the primary source which questionnaire was used as an instrument of data collection while secondary data were sources from textbooks, journals, newspapers and the internet were employed. The data were presented on a frequency distribution table and analyzed using simple percentage, while hypothesis was tested using chi-square test. The present study hypothesized that there is a significant relationship between the educational background of the Nurse and their attitude toward relapse prevention. Also, Nurses has significant experience toward identifying symptoms of relapse. Findings from this study would need repetition in other similar hospitals before generalization. Some of the hospital health workers could have given responses that are reflective of their status and not actually their true disposition to mental illness. This study will provide information on the general attitude of Nigerians particularly health workers towards the mentally sick. Based on the findings, it is recommended that appropriate screening and intervention programs should be allowed especially during orientation so as to prevent mental health problems among patients.