ABSTRACT
Background: Corona virus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19), has posed significant mental health challenges. Psychological morbidities among Indian doctors has not been extensively examined. In order to plan appropriate interventions, it is imperative to know the details of the mental health condition of our doctors especially so during this period of enormous physical and mental challenges brought by the current pandemic. Methodology: The present findings, are from an online survey done to briefly assess the mental health status of doctors. The survey was done, through a questionnaire, generated by the authors, from items of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) version 6. Results: A total of 274 responses were received and 242were analysed. Mean age of the participants was 37.21 Years (SD = 10.70). 61.98% of the participants were males. 42.14% were resident doctors, 44.21% were faculty members. Majority of the doctors reported having some psychiatric symptom. Only, 0.83% reported having suicidal ideation. None of the participants were planning to seek a psychiatric consultation, in near future, for the psychiatric problems. There was a positive correlation of psychiatric symptoms, with exposure to COVID-19 duties. Conclusions: Doctors have higher psychological morbidities, but due to various reasons are not willing to address the severity of their symptoms nor are they acknowledging the need for intervention. There is an urgent need, for acceptance and acknowledgement of the psychological problems being faced by this highly demanding, vulnerable population, especially so during the present crisis
ABSTRACT
Rapid pace of unplanned urbanization in the developing countries has resulted in a large proportion of children becoming homeless, leading to multiple children living on the streets. These children are highly vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Against this background, studies on the situational analysis of street children across India are needed; therefore, a study to assess the condition of street children in the city of Varanasi was planned. Street children registered with a nongovernmental organization were contacted. Four hundred and fifteen children were selected by random sampling, and this group was administered a semi‑structured interview containing 35 items. It was found that all forms of abuse were common, but physical abuse (74%) was highest and the police (25.5%) was an important perpetrator. Younger children were much more vulnerable. The sample commonly had boys and between the ages of 10 and 15 years. It was concluded that these children need policies to be incorporated into the mainstream.
ABSTRACT
Background: Alcohol misuse is a major cause of morbidity and mortality and an important health care burden, the Quality of Life (QoL) of alcohol abusing subjects has been little studied to date. Aims & Objective: To assess the burden of care and quality of life of alcohol and opioid dependent subjects. Material and Methods: A cross sectional hospital based study was done. The sample consisted of 37 patients of mixed sex and their family members. The subjects were examined using a semi structured socio demographic profile performa, the WHOQOL-BREF quality of life assessment, Family Burden Interview Schedule (FBIS). Results: The overall mean scores for WHOQOL-Bref were not statistically significant between the alcohol (p=0.93) and the opioid (p=0.99) dependent groups and also the individual domains showed no significant difference between groups. Conclusion: Our study was conducted to analyse the quality of life and burden of care in alcohol and opioid dependent patients. The report of many subjects of poor quality of life during early withdrawal periods stresses the need for implementing ways of improving quality of life during this stage, to reduce relapse, and have better compliance of the detoxification and management measures. Our study also shows that the quality of life of alcohol users is equally poor when compared to that of opioid dependent subjects.
ABSTRACT
Objective: This case reports highlight atypical presentation of pediatric bipolar mood disorder. Pediatric bipolar disorder is said to be a rare condition with some distinct differences from adult bipolar disorder. Despite the ongoing controversy regarding its exact typology, pediatric bipolar mood disorder is being reported in the form of case reports and in systematic research. Pediatric bipolar disorder is difficult to diagnose because its presentation of symptoms overlaps considerably with conduct problems, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperkinetic disorder). Methods: We report two cases which met a diagnosis of pediatric mood disorder where the presentation of symptoms was unique and atypical. Results: The cases are presented so that they help to raise pertinent questions regarding phenomenology, duration, episodic nature of the illness and management of this important group of disorders. Conclusion: Pediatric bipolar disorder should be viewed with seriousness and pediatric mania should be given importance in the assessment of the typology, prognosis and management of this important group of childhood disorder.