Psychiatric morbidity and associated socio demographic factors in young unemployed people

Objective: To determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in young unemployed people and analyze associated socio demographic factors

Study Design: Cross sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Enrollment camps at Punjab and Kashmir, from Jan 2014 to March 2014

Material and Methods: The sample population comprised of unemployed people who came for recruitment in Pakistan Army at different parts of the country. General Health Questionnaire 12 [GHQ12] was used to screen the population for psychiatric morbidity, 3 was used as cut off score. Age, province, education, level of family income, tobacco smoking, naswar [a tobacco based substance] use, marital status, dependent family members, worrying about the future and social support status were correlated with high GHQ score. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of participants and the distribution of GHQ score

Result Out of 2511 people 1887 [75.1%] had GHQ score more than 3 showing some psychiatric morbidity. A total of 696 were Kashmiris out of which 540 [77.5%] were GHQ positive, 1329 were Punjabis out of which 978 [73.5%] were GHQ positive, 339 were Pakhtoons out of which 258 [76.1%] were GHQ positive, 129 were Balti out of which 102 [79%] were GHQ positive and 18 were from other ethnicities out of which 9 [50%] were GHQ positive

With logistic regression we found that family size, smoking, naswar use, family income, family history of psychiatric disorder, lack of social support, and low education were significantly correlated with high GHQ score while age of individual, worry about future and marital status had no significant relation with high GHQ score among unemployed people in our study

Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among unemployed youth of our country. Special attention should be paid to poor people, people with low education and large families. Adequate social support should be provided to young people with no jobs and use of cigarette and naswar should be discouraged

Anxiety, depression in patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors

To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid tumors using Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale [HADS]. Cross sectional descriptive study. Out-patient department of Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health, Rawalpindi from June 2011 to December 2011. Consecutive non probability sampling technique was used to select patients of age [25-70 years], male or female, who had received atleast 03 cycles of chemotherapy for solid tumors. Those with history of prior psychiatric illness, current use of psychotropic medication or psychoactive substance use, and any major bereavement in past one year were excluded from the study. After taking informed consent, relevant socio- demographic data was collected and HADS was administered. HADS-A cut off score of 7 was taken as significant anxiety while a HADS-D cut off score of 7 was taken as significant depression. The total number of participants was 209. The mean age of patients was 42.9 years, with 55.5% males and 44.5% females. Overall 33/209 [15.8%] patients had anxiety while 56/209 [26.8%] were found to have depression. there was a higher frequency of anxiety and depression in younger patients [less than age 40 years], females, patients who were single or divorced, and patients receiving chemotherapy for pancreatic carcinoma. Patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from considerable levels of anxiety and depression, thus highlighting the need for specialized interventions

Assessment of socio demographic risk factors involved in coronary artery disease seen in patients presenting in coronary outdoor

The aim of the study is to assess the sociodemographic risk factor involved in Coronary Artery Disease seen in patients presenting in Coronary outdoor. A Case-Control study. The study was conducted between July 1[st] to July 28, 2004 in Lahore. It was a community based survey conducted on coronary outdoor departments in Lahore. Multistage followed by systematic random sampling methodology was used. 30 known patients of CHD were selected as cases along with inclusion of 30 healthy people as controls for the assessment of sociodemographic risk factors of CHD. The final result shows that there is a significant risk for persons over 50[OR:3, CI:0.93-94], male sex [OR:2.28, CI:0.71-7.3], smokers [OR:11.6 CI:2.95-49.00], sedentary life style [OR:6 CI0.82-8.89], persons having transport problems [OR:2. CI0.62-6.51], high cholesterol diet [OR:2.2 CI0.71-7.46], positive family history of CHD [OR:13.75,CI3.40-60.40] and underlying diseases like diabetes and hypertension [OR:4.75,CI0.40-16.74]. The study reveals an area that needs attention. The overall risk profile in our community showed increased risk of CHD in male sex, age over 50, high cholesterol diet, smoking. sedentary life style. positive family history of CHD and stressful conditions