ISSN 0189-1774
 
2026, Vol: 24, Issue: 2
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Original Article
Online Published: 17 May 2025
 


Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta

Lydia U. Egua, Adekunle J. Ariba, Olumuyiwa B. Akingunola, Yesiru A. Kareem, Omokehinde O. Fakorede, Andrew I. Egua.


Abstract
Background: Depressive disorder is quite prevalent in Nigerian family practice settings and has been associated with disability in almost all domains of life. Determinants of positive outcomes vary including the roles of family dynamics and internalized stigma. This study assessed the pattern of family functioning and its relationship with internalized stigma among outpatients with depressive disorder at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta.

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted among 272 outpatients being managed for depressive disorder at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. Consenting patients who met the study criteria had their diagnosis confirmed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and subsequently interviewed. The Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness Scale and APGAR family functioning scale were also administered. Data were analyzed with the Statistical Package Social Sciences and level of statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 45.54 (± 11.15) years. Most (96.7%) had mild-moderate forms of depressive disorder and a minority (26.1%) had poor to moderately functional families. The prevalence of high internalized stigma was low (8%) but significantly associated with family functioning (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Most patients with depressive disorder attending the clinic have a mild-to-moderate form of the illness and not experiencing dysfunction at the home front. High Internalized stigma among the study respondents was low; with family dysfunction, short illness duration and severe form of depression being possible risk factors.

Key words: Keywords: ‘Depressive disorder’, ‘Family functioning’, ‘Internalized stigma’, ‘Outpatient clinic’


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Egua LU, Ariba AJ, Akingunola OB, Kareem YA, Fakorede OO, Egua AI. Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. NJP. 2024; 22(2): 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822

Web Style

Egua LU, Ariba AJ, Akingunola OB, Kareem YA, Fakorede OO, Egua AI. Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. https://nigerianjournalofpsychiatry.com/?mno=214822 [Access: June 27, 2026]. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Egua LU, Ariba AJ, Akingunola OB, Kareem YA, Fakorede OO, Egua AI. Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. NJP. 2024; 22(2): 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Egua LU, Ariba AJ, Akingunola OB, Kareem YA, Fakorede OO, Egua AI. Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. NJP. (2024), [cited June 27, 2026]; 22(2): 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


Harvard Style

Egua, L. U., Ariba, . A. J., Akingunola, . O. B., Kareem, . Y. A., Fakorede, . O. O. & Egua, . A. I. (2024) Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. NJP, 22 (2), 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


Turabian Style

Egua, Lydia U., Adekunle J. Ariba, Olumuyiwa B. Akingunola, Yesiru A. Kareem, Omokehinde O. Fakorede, and Andrew I. Egua. 2024. Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 22 (2), 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


Chicago Style

Egua, Lydia U., Adekunle J. Ariba, Olumuyiwa B. Akingunola, Yesiru A. Kareem, Omokehinde O. Fakorede, and Andrew I. Egua. "Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta." Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry 22 (2024), 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Egua, Lydia U., Adekunle J. Ariba, Olumuyiwa B. Akingunola, Yesiru A. Kareem, Omokehinde O. Fakorede, and Andrew I. Egua. "Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta." Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry 22.2 (2024), 48-63. Print. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Egua, L. U., Ariba, . A. J., Akingunola, . O. B., Kareem, . Y. A., Fakorede, . O. O. & Egua, . A. I. (2024) Family Functioning and Internalized Stigma Among Patients With Depressive Disorder Attending the Outpatient Clinic of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. Nigerian Journal of Psychiatry, 22 (2), 48-63. doi:10.5455/NJP.214822


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