Attempted suicide and seriousness of intent

This descriptive research was conducted to estimate the method of suicide and suicidal intent among hospitalised suicide attempters at Pakistan Ordinance Factory [POF] Hospital, Wah Cantt, from December 2012 to June 2013. Data were collected from 49 hospitalised suicide attempters through purposive sampling technique by using Suicidal Intent Scale. Majority of suicide attempters [92%] used self-poisoning as the method of suicide regardless of their gender, age, occupation, past medical history, past psychiatric history, and history of suicide and psychiatric illness in their families. Additionally, most of them [43%] reported high level of suicidal intent, while 16 [33%] reported medium suicidal intent and 12 [24%] reported mild suicidal intent. Keeping in view the fact that majority of suicide attempters used self-poisoning as a method and most of them reported high level of suicidal intent, it is important to plan preventive measures

Presentation and psychiatric CO morbidity in patients presenting with dissociative disorders

To determine the type of presentation of Dissociative Disorders and to estimate the frequency of Anxiety and Depression among patients of Dissociative Disorders. Cross sectional study. The study was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Pakistan Ordinance Factory Hospital, Wah Cantt from June 2008 to April 2009. 100 patients of Dissociative Disorders were included in the study that was selected through purposive sampling. Category of presentation of Dissociative Disorders in the participants was determined by using ICD 10 Research Diagnostic Criteria. A subsequent assessment for the presence or absence of Anxiety and Depression was carried out by using Agha Khan University Anxiety and Depression Scale [AKUADS]. Frequency of Anxiety and Depression was calculated in patients of Dissociative disorders. The commonest type of presentation of Dissociative Disorders was Dissociative Anesthesia and Sensory Loss 38 [38%] followed by Dissociative Disorder Unspecified 30 [30%] with features similar to mania and psychosis. Anxiety and Depression was present in 74 [74%] of patients with Dissociative Disorders. It seems that unspecified variety has been increasing especially with different presentation. Two third of the patients with Dissociative Disorders were found to have Anxiety and Depression

Depression, anxiety and their associated factors among medical students

To determine the frequency of anxiety and depression among medical students of Wah Medical College and their associations with sociodemographic and educational characteristics if any. Cross-sectional survey. Wah Medical College, from September 2007 to March 2008. A sample of 279 students was included in the study after excluding first year medical students because they were admitted for less than 6 months. A self administered Encounter Form was administered. Sociodemographic and educational characteristics included age, gender, birth order, number of siblings, monthly income, monthly expenditure on education, academic performance in professional examination, past medical and past psychiatric history, substance abuse and family history of psychiatric illness. Beck depression inventory and beck anxiety inventory were used to assess the level of depression and anxiety. The chi-square test was applied at 5% level of significance to determine associated factors for anxiety and depression respectively. The mean age of students was 21.4 +/- 1.41 years with female preponderance i.e. 202 [72.4%]. Anxiety was present in 133 [47.7%] students and depression in 98 [35.1%] students. Both were found concomitantly in 68 [24.37%] students. Age [p=0.013], gender [p=0.016], examination criteria dissatisfaction [p=0.002] and overburden with test schedule [p=0.002] were significantly associated with depression. Anxiety was significantly associated with gender [p=0.007], birth order [p=0.049], year of study [p=0.001], examination criteria dissatisfaction [p=0.010] and overburden with test schedule [p=0.006]. One third of students were found to have anxiety and depression which was associated with the sociodemographic and educational factors as stated above