Medical experts have cautioned that hearing voices or seeing things that others cannot perceive are clinical symptoms of schizophrenia not signs of “madness,” as widely assumed in Nigeria. They stress that the disorder is a serious mental health condition that affects a person’s thinking, emotions, and behaviour, and requires proper diagnosis and treatment.
The specialists spoke amid growing concern that economic hardship and rising stress levels may be contributing to mental health challenges nationwide. According to the World Health Organisation, schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder affecting about 20 million people globally, characterised by distortions in perception, thinking, language, and emotions, as well as hallucinations and delusions.
Mrs. Olawunmi Peters, Director of Pharmacy and Head of Department at the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, said recent research suggests roughly 1.86 million Nigerians may be living with schizophrenia. She noted that the condition often requires lifelong treatment and support.
“The person with this disorder hears and sees things in clear consciousness which others cannot perceive,” Peters explained. “Some patients may also show reduced motivation, limited speech, social withdrawal, or emotional flatness.”
She recounted a case involving a patient who believed her son was hammering nails into her skull daily despite evidence to the contrary. The patient reportedly laughed to herself, became suspicious of relatives, refused food for days, and claimed to hear voices insulting her.
Peters added that violent behaviour is usually linked only to acute, untreated phases of the illness, stressing that many patients who receive proper care can function well, maintain relationships, and pursue careers.
“With adequate interventions from psychiatrists, pharmacists, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers, individuals with schizophrenia can live normal lives,” she said.
Rising Cases and Risk Factors
Dr. Kingsley Amibor, National Chairman of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, said Nigeria records an estimated 100,000 new schizophrenia cases annually. He explained that the disorder commonly emerges in late adolescence around ages 19 to 20 though some cases may not be detected until the early 30s.
Symptoms, he said, include persistent false beliefs, hallucinations, and rigid thinking patterns. Amibor also noted a genetic component, stating that identical twins may face up to a 48 percent risk, while environmental factors and viral infections can contribute to onset.
Corroborating his remarks, Dr. Oyetunji Ajayi, Deputy Director of Pharmacy at the Yaba psychiatric hospital, said prolonged substance abuse can trigger the condition in some individuals. She emphasised that schizophrenia is treatable and not a direct cause of death, though it may worsen without medical intervention.
Ajayi disclosed that her facility alone records more than 50,000 new cases annually. During the COVID-19 period, she added, the hospital saw an average of 10 to 15 new cases daily, attributing this partly to increased awareness that treatment is available.
Health professionals continue to urge the public to replace stigma with understanding, noting that schizophrenia is a medical condition not a personal failing and that early diagnosis and consistent care significantly improve outcomes.
