Polyherbal Combinations Used by Traditional Health Practitioners against Mental Illnesses in Bamako, Mali, West Africa

This study explores the traditional knowledge of plants used by traditional health practitioners (THPs) in the treatment of symptoms or syndromes related to mental illnesses in the district of Bamako in Mali, along with the identification of affiliated traditional treating methods. An exploratory and cross-sectional ethnopharmacological survey was conducted in the district of Bamako. The Malian Federation of Associations of Therapists and Herbalists (FEMATH) assisted in the identification and inclusion of the THPs. Data sampling included semi-structured interviews, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were evaluated by analysing reports of the use of different medicinal plants and the number of participants. Fifteen THPs belonging to the district of Bamako participated. In total, 43 medicinal plants belonging to 22 plant families were used by the THPs. The most cited plant species was Securidaca longepedunculata (violet tree), followed by Khaya senegalensis (African mahogany) and Boscia integrifolia (rough-leaved shepherds tree). A great number of herbal combinations, preparation methods, and administration routes were used, often with honey as an adjuvant. To our knowledge, this is the first ethnobotanical survey on the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of all types of mental disorders in Bamako.

[Factors associated with mental disorders in the psychiatric department of the university hospital centre of Point G in Mali.]

INTRODUCTION

Mental health is a state of equilibrium and well-being, any alteration of which leads to the appearance of a state of distress and/or mental disorder.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work was to study familial and environmental factors associated with mental disorders.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Psychiatry Department of the Point G University Hospital Center from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 among outpatients with a psychiatric disorder in whom factors associated with psychiatric disorders were studied.

RESULTS

We included 288 patients. The median age was 33.0 years. The sex ratio was 1.88 in favor of males. Married patients accounted for 45.5%. First born uterine siblings accounted for 26.7%. Patients born of an inbreeding alliance accounted for 25.7%. Cases with a family history of a psychiatric disorder represented 59.0% and those who spent their childhood with their parents accounted for 64.2%. Cases of psychoactive substance use prior to the onset of the mental disorder accounted for 42.7%. The main psychosocial stress factors that preceded the onset of the mental disorder were grief (46.2%) and family conflict (22.6%). Psychotic disorders accounted for 77.8%.

CONCLUSION

Our results show an association of mental disorders with family history of psychiatric disorder among patients followed in psychiatry. Further studies, such as genetic association may prove useful.

[Morbidities of psychiatric disorders among women prisoners of the "Bollé" detention and reintegration center for women (CSDRF)]

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this work was to determine the frequency of mental disorders among female inmates of the C.S.D.R.F "Bollé".

METHOD

This was a descriptive, cross-cutting, prospective study that took place from August to September 2016 at (C.S.D.R.F) "Bollé" in Bamako. It concerned all female inmates present during the study period. The data were collected from pre-established fact sheets, the administration of the Mental Health Screening Questionnaire (MSQ) and clinical variables according to ICD10 criteria.

RESULTS

In total, 85 of inmates, or 74% (N-115) agreed to participate in the study. The 14-24 age group accounted for 61.0%. Singles accounted for 56.5% and 95.3% of female inmates had no previous prison history. Seventy-four percent were in pre-trial detention 12.6% had psychotic disorders. Personality disorders were observed in 11.8%. An inmate was on the committee. Thyme disorders were present in 4.7% of female inmates. Drug abuse was observed in 2.4% of female inmates.

CONCLUSION

Detention can trigger, promote or aggravate a mental disorder.

Mortality of epilepsy in developing countries

During the last two decades, there has been a renewed interest in studying epidemiology of epilepsy in developing countries. While there are data on prevalence of epilepsy from many developing countries, there is very little information on the mortality of epilepsy in these same populations. This is because incidence studies of epilepsy are difficult to perform, death certificates are unreliable and often unavailable, and the cause of death is difficult to determine. We report on several studies of mortality in epilepsy in developing countries: Ecuador; the Parsi community of Bombay; a semiurban community in Vasai, India; Mali; Martinique; and Africa. Overall, these studies in general illustrate excess mortality among people with epilepsy when compared with the general population.