In a 1-day survey, the sociodemographic and diagnostic characteristics of 128 patients in a psychiatric hospital in Nigeria were studied. There were more males (67%) than females (33%). The three main diagnostic groups found were schizophrenia (58%), affective psychoses (17%) and organic psychoses (12%). A total of 28% of the patients were illiterate and a further 47% had received primary school education terminating at various stages. The majority (66%) were either unskilled or unemployed. There was a predominance of young persons under the age of 40 years. Rural patients consulted traditional healers and prayer houses more often than did their urban counterparts. Electroconvulsive therapy was extensively used. The number of in-patient psychiatric beds in the State was found insufficient for its population size, and suggestions are made for future improvement. The possible sociocultural and medical implications of the findings are discussed.