Mbatuegwu CU, Egwim JI, Onuoha F, Mbatuegwu AI and Onyechere CJ
Citation: Mbatuegwu CU, Egwim JI, Onuoha F, Mbatuegwu AI and Onyechere CJ (2025) Pattern of depressive disorders and perceived family support among adult patients attending the general out-patient clinics of a South-Eastern Nigeria tertiary Hospital. Frontline Professionals Journal, 2(1), 202– 220
ABSTRACT
Background: Depression in South-Eastern Nigeria is under-diagnosed and poorly managed while weakening traditional support systems exacerbate this issue.
Aim: This was to investigate the prevalence of depression in the Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri (FTHO) General Out-patient Clinics while examining the relationship between perceived family support (PFS) and depression.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 individuals using an interviewer administered, questionnaire including the PHQ-9 and MSPSS family subscale tools.
Results: The study found a 17.3% prevalence of depression, a mean PFS score of 16.34 ±4.59, where major depression prevailed (69.2%) when PFS score was below the mean.
Conclusion: There was a negative relationship pattern between depression severity and PFS.It is urged that an improvement in PFS could protect mental health.