Effect of relaxation excercises in generalized anxiety disorder [GAD]

To see the efficacy of relaxation exercises in patients with GAD, receiving combination of medicine and relaxation exercises in comparison with those who are taking only medicine therapy. Comparative, intervention based study. Study was conducted at both inpatients and out patients units of Psychiatry, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan. Duration was over a period of three months. Study was conducted over a period of three months. Sample consisted of 100 participants. Fifty patients with GAD symptoms were selected for experimental group [including 25 males and 25 females], and same number of patients were taken as control group. Age was ranged from 20 - 50. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, HAM- A was used as research instrument. Progressive muscular relaxation technique was applied on clients in experimental group. Compared with only anxiolytic receiving group, patients receiving relaxation exercise showed significantly reduced anxiety symptoms by a mean effect of percentage. Relaxation exercise program lasting no more than four weeks, using session duration of at least 30 minutes, and an anxiety report time frame greater than the past week resulted in the largest improvement. The present results provide clinicians with evidence to recommend exercise training to patients as a means for reducing anxiety symptoms with minimal risk of adverse events. Exercise training may be especially useful for patients who prefer non-pharmacologic treatments because such preferences may influence the magnitude of the treatment outcomes

School mental health program in Pakistan- a whole school approach

To find out change in Pakistani teacher's perception about mental health and whole school approach after training workshops. Experimental Trainings were held at department of Psychiatry, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in collaboration with British council, THET, federal directorate of education and Kings College, London. Duration of training workshop was eight days. This study involving 60 [Male and Female] subject class teachers, heads of school, officers concerned from ministry of education and school counselors of both government and private sectors. Data was collected with the help of instruments i.e., pre designed Pre and post - tests for the assessment of their knowledge regarding mental health and whole school approach before and after training. Results were then computed by using percentages to compare the knowledge of participants before and after receiving trainings. Training involved interactive group discussions and work assignments. At the end of the workshop models were presented by each group with enablers and key dimensions for a whole school approach. On pre test participants scored 58.65% while after receiving training the score was 74.8%. This revealed an overall mismatch between teachers' beliefs about a whole-school approach, childhood mental health problems and their perceived school reality and mental health issues. To conclude, trainings on school mental health program and whole school approach changed perception and knowledge of teachers and educationists. They reported that they are now better able to use school policies, systems and structures to create an environment that will promote mental wellbeing

Psychological well being and work motivation amongst medical professionals

The study examines the relationship of psychological well-being and work motivation in a sample of Pakistani medical professionals. Cross sectional comparative study. The study was conducted in private [Alshifa International Hospital, Islamabad, and Islamabad Private Hospital] and public sector hospitals [Pakistan Institute of medical Sciences and Rawalpindi General Hospital] in the twin-cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan during 2002. A sample of 120 medical professionals belonging to the private and public sector hospitals [n=60 in each] participated in the study. They were selected on the basis of purposive convenient sampling technique. The data was collected with the help of Psychological Well-Being Scale [Wb] and Work Preference Inventory [WPI] and a separately devised demographic sheet containing information about age, experience and private and public sector affiliation. The age range of the sample was between 30-60 years [M=42.97, SD=7.96]. The range of experience in service was 1-42 years [M=16.28, SD=8.43]. Scores of psychological well being had a significant inverse co-relation with extrinsic motivation [r=-0.26, p < .01]. Public and private sector doctors showed a highly significant difference in their motivational orientation [p < .01]. The relation of age with scores of well being and motivation showed a significant difference, [t=3.9, p<.001] and [t=2.41, p<0.05] between those aged 53 and above and those 41 years of age or less respectively. Compared to the private sector, the environment of public sector is perceived to be more challenging. Similarly, older medical professionals seem to be having higher psychological well-being and work motivation, compared to the younger medical professionals. However, these findings suggest the need for further exploration of some interrelated variables, which might give us insight for future policy implementation, suggesting ways for further improvement in the psychological facets of the work environment of this dynamic group of professionals

Relationship between suicidal ideation, social support and coping skills in female prisoners of a jail in Pakistan

To compare the convicted and under trial female prisoners on suicidal ideation, coping skills and social support.Cross-sectional comparative study.Adyiala Jail Rawalpindi. Data is collected in six month duration i.e., May 2004 to Nov 2004. Sample of the study consisted of 40 female prisoners in which 20 were convicted and other 20 were under trial. Majority of the sample was in the range of 25-35years [57.5%], unmarried [50%] and educated till middle[67.5],Instruments used were Beck Suicidal Ideation Scale, Social Support Questionnaire and Brief COPE.The result shows that under trial female prisoners use more avoidance copings as compared to convicted female prisoners. It means that un-convicted female prisoners have more negative thinking, more self blame, behavior disengagement venting and denial as compared to convicted female prisoners. But the difference is non significant [t 1.43, p= .16].Present study shows that social support and coping skills have greater impact on prisoner's suicidal ideation, The higher the social support the higher the coping skill and lesser the suicidal ideation

Inpatients psychiatric morbidity at Pakistan institute of medical sciences [PIMS]

The present study aims to describe the socio-demographic variables and the frequency of different diagnostic categories of the patients admitted in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Descriptive study. Psychiatry Department, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. Data collection was done for six months [July 2000 to January 2001]. 113 consecutively randomized patients were admitted in the psychiatry department at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences. Patients were admitted to psychiatry Department Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, between [July 2000 to January 2001]. Three cases were excluded because of age group under 10, restricting the analysis to 113 cases. Data was collected for the following variables age, sex, duration of admission reason for admission diagnosis and the treatment given during their stay. Of 113 patients, 64 were males and 48 were females between the age group of 11 and 80 years. Data was established with reference to the patients admitted with different psychiatric illnesses, their ages and gender. Our study found a trend toward a higher risk of admission in different psychiatric disease with reference to different age groups and genders

Can cannabis abuse lead to anxiety and depression?

To determine the association of cannabis abuse with depression, anxiety and mixed anxiety depression as well as to establish the psychometric properties of the scale used in the study i.e. Hospital anxiety and depression [HAD] scale. Retrospective study.Different localities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.40 cannabis patients suffering from cannabis dependence and 40 normal persons were selected from different localities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The Urdu modified version of Hospital anxiety and depression scale [HADS] was used to assess the severity of anxiety and depression in both groups. The mean age of cannabis dependent patients was 29.60 and that of non-addicts 29.33. It shows more depression in cannabis abusers as compared to non cannabis addicts. Addicts have more anxiety as compared to non-addicts. Cannabis addicts have more mixed anxiety depression as compared to non-addicts. The other objective of the study was to establish the Alpha reliability coefficient and item-total correlation of the scale, the findings of which suggest that all the items of the scale are highly consistent. The findings of the study suggest that the cannabis abusers have more depression, anxiety and mixed anxiety depression as compared to non- addicts. Anxiety, depression and mixed anxiety depression in addicts can be due to biological, psychosocial, genetic and neurochemical factors which need to be investigated in future studies