ABSTRACT
A door to door survey was conducted to study the spectrum of psychiatric symptomatology in children aged 1-12 years belonging to high and low socio-economic groups. One hundred families in each group were studied. Symptom prevalence rate was comparable in the two groups, i.e., 479/1000 in the high socio-economic (HSE) group and 487/1000 in the low socio-economic (LSE) group. However, there were significant differences in the spectrum of symptomatology. Symptoms like quarrelsomeness, disobedience, abusive language, stealing, truancy, pica, school refusal, enuresis, mental subnormality and poor scholastic performance were significantly more in the LSE group. In the HSE group, symptoms like nail biting, food refusal, food fads and temper tantrums were significantly more.
Subject(s)
Child , Child Behavior Disorders/epidemiology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , India , Infant , Male , Prevalence , Social Class , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
The study was undertaken to estimate plasma copper and zinc in thirty-five depressed patients. Two blood samples were drawn from each patient, one before starting treatment and the second after recovery from depression. The results were compared with the thirty-five normal healthy individuals. The mean plasma copper in controls, depressed patients and in patients after recovery were 106.82, 122.14 and 104.22 micrograms/dl, respectively. The copper levels in patients when depressed were significantly higher as compared to controls and after recovery from depression. The mean plasma zinc levels in controls, depressed patients and after recovery were 115.80, 107.62 and 125.68 micrograms/dl, respectively. No significant difference could be obtained between control and depressed patients. However, the values were significantly higher in recovered patients compared to patients with depression.