Knowledge of depression among community members and health care providers in two selected areas of district Rawalpindi

To determine the level of knowledge about depression in two selected areas of district Rawalpindi. Cross-sectional survey report. Union council Rehmatabad and mohalla Sultanpura, Rawalpindi, from June to December 2007. Strata of community were interviewed regarding the knowledge about depression using an indigenously developed questionnaire. To determine any association between difference of level of knowledge and different strata of community Chi-square [X][2] tests was applied at 5% level of significance and p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Most of the respondents [63%] thought that diabetes was the major health problem in our country. Most of participants thought that drug abuse and addiction [74.3%], adolescent emotional and behavioral problems [66.8%] followed by alcohol abuse [50.3%] and personality disorders [49.2%] were the common mental illnesses. Chi-square [X][2] statistics showed a highly significant association between difference of level of knowledge and the two strata of community i.e. health care providers and community members [p < 0.001]. People in the selected areas of district Rawalpindi had a poor knowledge about depression

Occupational stress and job satisfaction among nurses at a tertiary care hospital

This study was conducted to find the different sources of occupational stress and the level of job satisfaction among nurses working at a tertiary care hospital. Cross sectional study. The study was conducted at Rawalpindi General Hospital from March 2005 to June 2005. The sample comprised of 50 female staff nurses working in different departments in Rawalpindi General Hospital. The sampling technique was stratified random sampling to include nurses working in various departments of hospital. Occupational stress and job satisfaction was assessed by Pressure Management Indicator in terms of Job Satisfaction, Organization, Mental well-being, Physical well-being, a 120 item self-report measure, encompassing many areas of stress evident in the workplace. Majority of the sample [74%] was working on full time whereas 26% were working on contract basis. The mean working hours in a week were 51.16 hrs + 8.98 hrs. On the scale of mental well being, which is comprised of various subscales, the mean score for resilience was 18.78 + 4.32 and for confidence level it was 10.40 + 4.19. These scores were more than the standard score which were 17.66 and 10.37 respectively. Majority of participants [70%] felt secure in their organization. Similarly 74% of participants scored more than the standard on sub scale of job satisfaction [Mean = 24.5 + 3.68]. On the scale for sources of pressure, the mean score on workload was 19.28 + 5.77, on personal responsibility the mean score was 14.04 + 2.99 and on the home/work balance the score was 19.92 + 4.36. The mean scores of participants on all these items were more than the standard scores. It appears that the nurses at a tertiary care hospital have a high index of occupational stress and majority of it generates from the administrative disorganization of the firm and less from the personal or the monitory factors

Psycho-social stressors in patients with somatoform disorders

To identify and compare the various psychosocial stressors in patients presenting with somatoform disorders during the last one year A retrospective [ex post facto] study. The study was conducted in the Inpatient and out patient departments of the Institute of Psychiatry, Rawalpindi General Hospital, from January 2004 to April 2004. The sample consisted of 80 patients [40 male and 40 female] with somatoform disorders. Life Events Scale [LES] and Axis-IV of DSM were used as instruments to study the various psychosocial stressors. The findings suggested that female patients [M = 356.15, SD = 138.01] experience more life events as compared to male patients [M = 317.6, SD = 103.48]. There were non-significant differences between males and females in terms of problems with the primary support group, social environment and economic difficulties. However mean scores indicated that female patients [M=1.43, SD=. 87] experience more problems with primary support group as compared to males [M =2.35, SD =1.09] whereas male patients [M= 1.50, SD=. 87] have more problems with the social environment as compared to females [M=1.43, SD=. 87]. Both male [M=. 87, SD=. 88] and female [M =.75, SD=. 59] patients showed preponderance with economic problems. Majority of the patients presenting with somatization belonged to the younger age groups. Somatoform disorders were more common among housewives and in males who were unemployed. There was a significant variation within the educational status of the patients. Psychosocial stressors are important causal factors for Somatoform disorders. People having problems with the primary support group and social environment are twice likely to present with somatoform disorders

Depression and anxiety in the caregivers of mentally ill patients

This study aimed at assessing the level of depression and anxiety among the caregivers of male and female patients with different psychiatric diagnosis. It was a Retrospective study. The data was taken from both In and Out patient departments Institute of Psychiatry Rawalpindi General Hospital, Rawalpindi from January 2004 to April 2004. The sample consisted of primary caregivers of 50 patients' of both genders, 25 male and 25 female patients. One primary caregivers of each patient was taken. Hamilton Rating Scale for depression [HAM-D] and HAM-A were used to assess depression and Anxiety. Sample was taken from the out patient department of Rawalpindi general Hospital. The result of study revealed that caregivers of the patients with psychiatric illnesses have significant high level of depression and anxiety and significant gender differences were also observed. Results showed that caregivers of young male patients have high level of depression as compare to older male patients and young female patient. No significant differences were observed between care givers of young male and female patients. The caregivers of patients carrying the diagnosis of schizophrenia have higher level of depression as compared to caregivers of depression and substance abuse. The duration of illness is also important dimension as care givers of the patients who were ill more that 18 months their family reported about being depressed and anxious. From the present study it can be suggested that the care givers of young patients have higher levels of depression and anxiety as compared to older patients and duration of illness and gender are important parameters to this

Locus of control and personality traits of male substance abusers and nonabusers

The present study aimed to assess and compare personality traits and locus of control of substance abusers and male non-Abusers. Retrospective study. The male substance abusers were taken from two drug treatment centers of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Nijiat Markaz and sunny trust Bahara Kahu, and 50 male non- abusers were taken from general community January 2004 to April 2004. The sample consisted of 100 males, 50 male Abusers and 50 males' non-abusers. The abusers and non abusers were selected through non-probability, purposive sampling technique. Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale [1966] [Urdu Translation], 16 Personality Factor Test [16PF, 1949] [Urdu Translation] were used in study along with demographic sheet. The age range of male substance abusers and non-abusers was from 18 to 50 years, educated up to intermediate level. The age range of alcohol, opium and cannabis abusers was between 26 to 36 years, where as the heroin and poly drug-abuser ages were ranging between 37 to 50 years. Most of the substance abusers were using heroin and poly drugs. The results indicated that male substance abusers scored lower than non abusers on personality traits of Openness to change[t = 7.360,P<0.01], Self reliance[t = 12.21,df = 49,P<0.01],Perfectionism[t = 11.79,df = 49,P<0.01]and Tension [t = 16.4,df = 49,P<0.01]. Substance abusers significantly scored higher on external locus of control [t=7.50, DF=49, P=.000]. Substance abusers had accentuated specific personality traits which makes them different from non abusers. Moreover, substance abusers seem to be more influenced by environmental cues. Locus of control orientation is an important parameter which has effect on thought, behavior and actions

Tele-Psychiatry: answer to psychiatric rehabilitation of earthquake affected population in Pakistan

Telemedicine utilizes information and telecommunications technology to transfer medical information for diagnosis, therapy and education through images, live video and audio. Past experiences as well as research have provided us significant evidence that the psychological distress and trauma induced by a disaster is the predisposing factor not only for increase in the incidence of these psychiatric ailments but it also triggers the exacerbation and relapse of previously existing conditions. Considering the prevailing consequences of the earthquake disaster in Pakistan, psychiatric rehabilitation in AJK and Northern areas through specialized health services, can be conducted using Tele-psychiatry. It is a practical and feasible way of facilitating delivery of psychiatric consultation, especially to affected areas where psychiatric facilities are virtually non-existent. A project of tele-psychiatry is proposed in this article

Relationship between anxiety, depression, psychological well- being and quality of life in diabetic patients having Haemodialysis

To assess the relationship between anxiety, depression, psychological well-being and their association with quality of life in diabetics having haemodilysis due to renal failure and those without haemodilysis.Cross-sectional comparative study. The study was conducted at the inpatient department of Nephrology, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad from March 2005 to June 2005.The sample consisted of 60 diabetic patients selected through non-probability convenient sampling technique, whereby 30 patients had haemodilysis and 30 patients were without haemodilysis. Anxiety, depression, quality of life and psychological well being were assessed with General Health Questionnaire 12 [GHQ 12], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] and WHO Quality of Life Brief [00L BREF] respectively.The mean scores of HADS of diabetic patients with or without haemodilysis on depression dimension were 12.43 [S.D + 3.55] and 8.93 [S.D. + 4.47] respectively where the difference was statistically significant. Mean scores of patients with and without haemodilysis for anxiety were 14.00 [S.D.+ 3.454] and 7.23 [S.D + 2.763] respectively which were again statistically significant. A significant positive correlation existed between anxiety and depression as well as quality of life and psychological well-being whereas depression was inversely correlated to both psychological well-being and quality of life. The diabetic patients with haemodilysis have anxiety, depression and poor quality of life when compared to those without haemodilysis

Attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry in Pakistan

The attitudes of 575 Medical Students of Rawalpindi Medical College towards psychiatry were studied using the 30-item 'Attitudes towards Psychiatry' questionnaire. The responses of all the five years and gender differences towards psychiatry are presented

Validation of general health questionnaire in a primary care setting of Pakistan

A study was conducted in a primary care setting to validate the General Health Questionnaire [GHQ 12]. The study had a two-stage design. During stage 1, all patients attending primary care facilities were given GHQ 12. All those scoring above two, and one in ten of those scoring below two, were given the second stage diagnostic instrument psychiatric assessment schedule [PAS], GHQ 12 had a sensitivity of 93% and specificity 88%