Psychologist recommends biopsychosocial assessment

dimeji akinloye

May 9, 2017 1:10 AM

The Senior Clinical Psychologist said that the traumatic events the girls had gone through can lead to mental health problems such as adjustment disorder, PTSD...

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari, seen sitting among the 82 Chibok girls rescued from Boko Haram after a prisoner swap, was elected on as promise to to defeat the insurgents

Mr

Ajiboye gave the recommendation in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

According to him, biopsychosocial assessment refers to a series of questions asked at the beginning of treatment of an individual that obtain information about the major physical (bio), psychological and social issues of the individual.

Ajiboye said that the traumatic events the girls had gone through can lead to mental health problems such as adjustment disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), psychotic symptoms or depression.

“Based on individual differences and coping skills found in an individual, responses to traumatic events may differ from one person to the other.

“Some may be greatly affected while some may cope well. In order to engage effective therapeutic measures, holistic assessment like biopsychosocial assessment should be made on anyone that encounter traumatic events to investigate if there are or will be physical, mental/psychological, social problems before, during and after the traumatic event,’’ the expert said.

He said the biopsychosoical treatment for traumatised patients includes chemotherapy-biological, psychotherapy-psychological, family therapy and stress management.

Ajiboye said others include social skills training, social adjustment training and social integration.

He said relevant stakeholders were needed for the proper recuperating of the girls to the society, adding that the government, military, medical personnel, mental health personnel, women and children NGOs, and ministries, should synergised to holistically handle the case of Chibok girls.

“Moreso, the treatment approach should not be a ‘quick fix type’ but should be sustainable and meet their long term needs or medical and mental conditions,’’ Ajiboye said.

The 82 rescued girls were handed over to the Federal Government by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on May 6.

President Muhammadu Buhari received the girls before leaving for London later in the night for medical check-up.

dimeji akinloye