Attitude of medical students towards psychiatry in NWFP

Worldwide literature shows negative attitude of medical students towards psychiatry, which determines future of this subject. Some work has been conducted in two provinces [Sindh and Punjab] of Pakistan in this regard. The Objective of this cross sectional study was conducted to find out the attitude of medical students in NWFP towards psychiatry. The survey was conducted at two different days of the month of July on final year students of two recognized medical colleges of NWFP. The sample consisted of 281 subjects of which 165 [58.3%] were males and 116 [41%] were females. Five Point Attitude scale [ATP 30] was used to assess the attitude. The data collected was labelled and analyzed with the help of SPSS version 10. There were total 30 items in the questionnaire of attitude study. Both male and female students showed positive attitude towards most of the items except few, towards which the attitude of the students was neutral. The results seem consistent with the local literature. Over all attitudes of medical students was positive. However, attitude of female students towards some of the items were more positive as compared to their male counterparts

Study of symptomatology of conversion disorder in patients reporting at Ayub teaching hospital

The symptomotology of conversion disorder differs from population to population depending upon the local taboos and rituals. This study was carried out to look for the commonest presenting symptoms of conversion disorder in the patients attending psychiatry unit of Ayub Teaching Hospital. No such study was done here in the past. 100 consecutive patients of either sex, presenting with Conversion disorder in the Psychiatry Department of Ayub Teaching Hospital, Abbottabad, were included in the study. The diagnosis was made observing criteria set by DSM-IV for diagnosis of conversion disorder. 35% patients reported with Pseudoseizures, 16% with Paralysis, 12% with Tremor, 8% with Aphonia, 6% each with Gait disorders and Difficulty in swallowing, 5% each with Mutism and Headache/Pain, 4% with Blindness and 3% with Anaesthesia. Conclusions: The results and their comparison with contemporary studies reflect that presenting symptoms of conversion disorder are significantly different from elsewhere