Patterns of depression, anxiety symptoms and coping styles among early and late adolescent students

To compare the depression, anxiety symptoms and coping styles among early and late adolescent students. Cross-sectional. Study was carried out at University of the Punjab, Lahore from 17 February to 31[st] August 2010. A purposive sample of 600 students [boys=300; girls=300] was divided into two age groups; early adolescents [13-15 years] and late adolescents [16-18 years]. Participatns were administered beck anxiety inventory, beck depression inventory-II and coping strategies questionnaire. Data was analyzed on SPSS 14 version using independent sample t test. The overall results of the study indicated that early adolescents exhibit more depression and anxiety symptoms as compared to the late adolescents. Morevoer, early and late adolescents each attempt to cope with stressors in a variety of ways as active practical coping styles were more utilized by late adolescents. On the other hand, religious focused and avoidance focused coping styles were mostly used by the early adolescents. Besides, there was no significant group difference on active distractive coping styles. The current study revealed that significant changes during adolescence may affect adaptive processes and have implications for intervention efforts aimed to reduce the negative effects of stress during this period. The findings also suggest early and late adolescents each attempt to cope with stressors in a variety of ways that become more diverse and adaptive with development throuth the adolescent years

Psychiatric co-morbidity in chronic pain disorder

To determine the psychiatric co-morbidity in patients with chronic pain disorder in hospital setting. Cross sectional descriptive study. This study was conducted at Combined Military Hospital [CMH] Okara from June 2011 to May 2012. A purposive sample of 400 patients [males=117; females=283] gathered from pain clinic and other outpatient departments of the hospital and were interviewed in detail and Present State Examination was carried out. Demographic variables were scored using descriptive statistics and results were analyzed using correlation methods. It was revealed that psychiatric illness in overall sample prevailed among 266 participants [67%]. Among which 164 participants [62%] were diagnosed with depression, 67 patients [25.2%] of chronic pain were diagnosed with anxiety disorders, 28 patients [11%] with adjustment disorder and 1.5% and 1.1% diagnosed with drug dependence and somatization disorder, respectively. Psychiatric co-morbidity especially the incidence of depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders were high amongst patients suffering from chronic pain disorder

Prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia: practices among parents of thalassemia major patients

To evaluate the practices and attitudes of parents of thalassemia major patients towards chorionic villous sampling [CVS]. A cross-sectional study was conducted at thalassemia centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in the months of]uly and August 2011. Information regarding CVS rvas taken from parents of 100 registered beta thalassemia major patients. Parents with no history of pregnancy after index case, parents of alpha thalassemia patient and those with other haemoglobinopathies were excluded from study. Results were entered and analyzed on SPSS version 17. After the index only 28 families underwent prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia by CVS. There were 72 families in which CVS was not done. Out of these it was not advised in 48 families and there were 24 families in which it was advised but they did not opt for it. Various reasons for this included health, religious and social issues and also the risk of miscarriages, when they were asked for CVS in future pregnancies, majority [67%] said yes but 33% were still not convinced to go for CVS in future. Prenatal diagnosis of beta-thalassemia by CVS is available in Pakistan for over a decade but its use remains limited. The main reasons for the limited use were that either they were not advised, or they did not opt for it for cost, health, social and religious issues. There is a need to impart awareness of the procedure particularly addressing the above mentioned issues.