La réhabilitation psychosociale du malade mental errant au Cameroun. Analyse d’une activité pilote

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND. The place and the function occupied by, as well as the level of adaptation of, individuals, families or corporations while facing events in life are guaranteed by measures designed either to prevent the outbreak of disease or to provide appropriate responses to disease when they are detected. Psychosocial rehabilitation of the patient often addressed at the exit of the healing phase, is dominated by the tertiary prevention actions. 

METHODS. During a rapid assessment of the situation (Rapid Assessment Procedure: RAP), carried out over 12 weeks from April to June 2002 the population of the wandering mentally ill in the city of Yaoundé, we grouped 55 people in the Department of Psychiatry of the Yaoundé Jamot hospital to be followed. The overall objective was to strengthen the prevention of the phenomenon of the wandering mentally ill in the mental health national policy in Cameroun. 

RESULTS. Our sample included 21.8% of cases of women, against 78.18% male; 26-30 and 31-35 age groups were the most represented 18.18% each. Among encountered mental pathologies, the leading was depressions 36, 36%, followed by reports from social exclusion, organized around the issue of the failure process, 23, 64%; 21, 82% of the cases were presented as schizophrenia or chronic psychosis. 45.45% of families have been found; among these, 24% of families have contributed to the return of the parent. Among persons we did accompany in their family, 01 (25%) remained in family, with an incidence of relapse observed of 75%. Psychosocial considerations mentioned as being the causes of failure to reintegration rehabilitating the subject are: the absence of structures of State for psychosocial support (40%), the burden of the case against family poverty (32%) rejection with family disinvestment (20%), the family disruption (8%).

CONCLUSIONS. Support for the wandering mentally ill remains a challenge for Cameroon. Mental health policy must take into account the social and cultural characteristics; give priority to prevention in mental health programs and the appropriate involvement of families through an approach to psychiatry community-based.