ABSTRACT
Background: Possession disorders are commonly reported, especially from third world countries, like India, Far East, African and South American countries. Despite the various fast paced technological advances, possession disorder is still prevalent in various rural pockets of India. As an extension of the ongoing WHO ECA study in the department an attempt was made to look at the presentation and prevalence of this rather culturally variable and versatile disorder. Aims: To study the prevalence of ICD-10-RDC diagnosable possession disorder in the revenue district of Chittoor, India. Methods: Probability sampling design (probability proportional to Size) was employed in this study, which was based on the guidelines adopted in the ongoing WHO Longitudinal Epidemiological study on mental disorders in the department of psychiatry, SVRR Hospital, Tirupati, India. After an inquiry method utilizing the key informants in the locality the cases were identified. Then the subjects and the families were interviewed using ICD10 RDC criteria for diagnosing Possession disorder. Prevalence rates were calculated as per the data available and an attempt was made to compare the data available in the department. Results: 364 cases were diagnosed based on the methodology of inquiry of key personnel in the community. A prevalence rate of 0.048 % that is 48 per 100,000 populations is identified. But S.V.R.R.Government General Hospital Psychiatry unit being the only tertiary care facility in this area, should have treated 200 cases in a district having five million populations. During the same period census showed only four case of possession disorder out of fifty five conversion disorder patients which was a small fraction. The reason for the above finding could be that many of these cases were utilizing alternate medical or socio cultural interventions. Conclusion: Prevalence of possession disorder is still high in the rural areas and public need proper education regarding the nature and management of possession disorder. Key message: Only a tip of iceberg is being treated by the psychiatrist, despite the high prevalence of possession disorder in rural India.
ABSTRACT
Background: Somatisation, the tendency to seek treatment for medically unexplained physical complaints is frequently associated with depression and is more frequently seen in Indian context. Aim: This study is aimed to assess the prevalence of somatisation symptoms among various subgroups of Indian patients with depression and the sociodemographic factors associated with depression. Methods: This is a cross sectional study of 262 patients, who were categorized into three sub groups of as per ICD 10.All the subjects were administrated MADRS and BSI to study severity of depression and nature of somatisation. Results: Female subjects exhibited a higher prevalence of somatisation than male subjects. Similarly married, illiterate, low socio-economic and rural background subjects showed high prevalence of somatisation. Subjects with diagnosis of dysthymia exhibited high prevalence of somatisation (56.42%) followed by mixed anxiety depression (51.08%) and depression with somatic symptoms (48.55%). Conclusion: Somatisation is common in depression. The tendency to perceive and report physical complaints are influenced by various socio demographic factors including gender difference.
ABSTRACT
Background: There has been a change in socio familial scenario over a period of time in India. The elderly are being displaced from a combined family to the old age homes. There is a need to assess the psychiatric morbidity in these settings to frame policies for future. Aims and objectives: To compare socio demographic factors and psychiatric morbidity in elderly living in old age homes and community. Methodology: 50 subjects from each of old age homes and community were administered Geriatric Mental Status Questionnaire after taking informed consent. The socio demographic factors and psychiatric morbidity of the two groups were analyzed statistically. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in socio demographic factors like age, educational status, socio economic status, marital status, having no male children and having employed children. Anxiety, moderate depression, obsessions and alcohol use were found to be higher in the community group where as mild depression; cognitive impairment and somatic dysfunction were found to be higher in old age homes, but statistically not significant, except for alcohol use. Conclusion: Elderly people in old age homes and community differed in socio demographic factors but not much in psychiatric morbidity.
ABSTRACT
Back ground: In our day to day work, especially in government hospitals we come across involuntary admissions where it is difficult to discharge them. Aim: To study the 1)socio demographic factors, 2)symptom profile during admission, 3)referral mode, 4) previous admissions, 5)diagnosis, and 6)co morbidity; of the patients admitted in the open and closed wards of a tertiary level psychiatry hospital. Methods: Collecting the information on socio-demographic profile, presentation, diagnosis and management details of the patients from the case sheets in a semi structured proforma. The data so collected is analyzed statistically to determine any significance. Results: Involuntary (closed ward) admissions were determined by various factors, such as education, marital status, caste, economic status, family structure, social support, referral mode, first consultation, duration of untreated illness, substance abuse and symptom profile. Conclusions: Involuntary admission in India is determined by factors which are not similar to other countries. Policies should be made based on large scale Indian studies.