Immediate psychological impacts on the inmates of a quarantine-isolation facility in North Kashmir: a pilot study

Background: During the current COVID-19 pandemic as part of various control measures quarantine-isolation facilities have been setup throughout India. To the best of our knowledge no study has been done so far on the mental health aspects of the inmates from Kashmir region.Methods: This was a questionnaire based qualitative cross sectional pilot study. A cohort of 301 inmates (196 males and105 females) consented and completed the study questionnaire from March 2020 to June, 2020. The relevant data was statistically analyzed.Results: Short lived negative impacts were seen in a sizeable number of patients. These negative correlates of mental health remained manageable as we followed the guidelines of MOHFW. Only a small percentage of ~ 4% (11 of 301) inmates needed psychiatric consultation and treatment. However they safely completed their mandatory stay period in the facility.Conclusions: Based on the results of our study, we conclude that optimum medical care during the pandemic remains the main focus and rightly so, but nevertheless mental health domain needs to be equally strengthened at the facilities in particular for short term impacts and the community in general for long term impacts.

Quality of Life of Parents having Children with Developmental Disabilities.

Background: There are known limitations in functioning of children with developmental disabilities which result in requirements for long term care far exceeding the usual needs of children as they develop, or the expectations of their families as a parent. Thus, while caregiving is a normal part of being a parent, providing the high level of care required by a child with long term functional limitations can become burdensome and may impact both physical and psychological health of caregivers. Researches have hardly investigated the Quality of Life (QoL) in family caregivers of children with developmental disorders as compared to normal healthy children. Objectives: This study investigated QoL in family caregivers of children with Mental Retardation (MR) and autism as compared to a control group (CG). Methods: The sample consisted of 240 parents (40mothers and 40 fathers in each of the three groups) of 120 children having MR, autism and normal healthy children. Diagnostic assessments in children were carried out using Seguine Form Board test, Vineland Social Maturity scale, Childhood Autism rating scale. QOL of parents was assessed by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Results: Analysis using one way analysis of variance and post hoc analysis revealed that compared with parents of healthy children, parents in the MR and autism group reported impairment in all the four domains of QoL. Little differences were observed between MR and autism groups. Such impairments were found both for fathers and mothers. Conclusion: Compared with parents of healthy children, parents in the MR and autism group reported impairment in all the four domains of QoL. Little differences were observed between MR and autism groups. Such impairments were found both for fathers and mothers. Thus, parents of children with MR and autism seem to display a higher burden and impaired QoL. These finding must be taken into account in policy making to provide better and more specific supports and interventions for this group of diseases. Psycho-social intervention programmes for family caregivers of children with developmental disorders should incorporate building upon specific strategies to enhance their quality of life.

Impact of Hypnotherapy on Examination Anxiety and Scholastic Performance among School Children.

Aim: The aim of the present research was to study the impact of hypnotherapy as treatment intervention in overcoming examination anxiety and improving scholastic achievement. Method: A 10 item anxiety test developed by Nist and Diehl (1990) was administered on 10 school children of 13 and 14 years of age. Following pre and post test design, anxiety and scholastic achievement scores were obtained both before and after hypnotherapy intervention. The children were given 2 sessions each week in a month just before the exams and before each exam day. The hypnosis techniques used were relaxation exercises, anxiety management about taking and giving exams and positive suggestions given to the subconscious mind. Results: Pre test anxiety scores ranged from 80-92% among all the children while post test anxiety scores dropped to a range of 60-68 %. The pre test academic scores ranged 50-57% while post intervention scores increased by 10-15%. Further, anxiety symptoms of forgetting before the exam, excessive nervousness, sweating during and before the exam, going blank after seeing the paper were all controlled/eliminated after hypnotherapy and these were observed by the teachers, parents and the children themselves. Conclusion: These results indicated that hypnotherapy as treatment intervention proved to be effective in reducing exam anxiety and improving scholastic performance among children.

Comparative Trial of Effectiveness of CBT-Medication Treatment Combination on Dimensions of Global Adjustment in Social Phobia.

Objectives: To study the effectiveness of CBT in adjustment dimensions of (family/health/ social/occupational/sexual/emotional) of patients suffering from social phobia & compare effectiveness of CBT- medical treatment combination with medical-treatment alone. Methods: Twenty patients of social phobia (DSM-IV) were randomized to two groups of ten patients each. Group I received CBT intervention and medical-treatment and Group II medical-treatment alone. Study utilized pre-post test design. CBT included thrice weekly, one hour sessions over three months. The assessments were made using the global adjustment scale (including five dimensions). Results: There was statistically significant improvement on global adjustment scale dimensions of social/family/occupational/ emotional adjustment in Group I as compared to Group II. Health/sexual adjustment didn’t differ in two groups. Conclusion: CBT intervention (relaxation techniques, socialskills training, systematic desensitization, A-B-C charting, other behavioral techniques along with counseling) in combination with medical treatment is more effective in improving adjustment in social phobia patients than medications alone.