Study of Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Traumatic Brain Injury.

Objective: This cross-sectional study was design to investigate prevalence and risk factors of generalized anxiety disorder in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Materials and Methods: The Group studied consists of 204 patients of mild and moderate TBI between 14- days to one-year post injury. Demographic characteristics of the participants were assessed on a self-designed semi structured performa. Interviews focused on assessment of severity of TBI, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and quality of life (Qol) using GCS, GAD-7 and WHOBREF-QOL respectively. Results: Total 204 patients were included. 11.76% participants were found to have generalized anxiety disorder. None of the demographic variables were associated with GAD except injury severity. Mild TBI patient (75.00%) had higher occurrence of GAD than the moderate cases (25.00%). GAD patients also had poor Qol than those without GAD in all domains except physical and social health domain. Neuroanatomical localization was also correlated with GAD. Left frontal contusions were the most common (37.50 %) lesions associated with GAD. Conclusion: GAD is commonly associated, yet under diagnosed clinical entities in head injury and have tremendous impact in overall outcome measures. Every patient of head injury warrants psychiatric evaluation and concomitant treatment if required to ensure the attainment of not only neuroanatomical intact but overall productive and qualitative life vindicating the holistic and multidisciplinary treatment approach.

Study of Serum Selenium Levels in Schizophrenic Patients.

Deficiency and excess amount of trace elements play an important role in several well recognized diseases, studies are going on to establish their role in schizophrenia. Selenium and other trace elements are indispensable components for certain enzymes responsible for various metabolic processes in different tissues including the brain as they play important functional roles in peripheral and central nervous systems. Objectives: In this study, we examined the levels of selenium in serum of patients of schizophrenia and compare them with normal healthy controls. Selenium was also measured in acute and chronic stage of schizophrenia categorized on the basis of PANSS score and correlated by Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient (ρ) in total cases, acute cases and chronic cases. Method: The study population comprised 150 patients and 150 age matched controls. We measured levels of Selenium by AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer). Results: We found that selenium levels were significantly lower in patients with schizophrenia than in the control group. The levels of micronutrients studied were also correlated with disease severity and duration but found non-significant relation. Conclusion: Evaluation of selenium levels in patients with schizophrenia could prove useful. There may be role of Selenium in the pathogenesis and course of Schizophrenia and new therapeutic approaches warrants further study.