ABSTRACT
EIGHTYFIVE HIV SEROPOSITIVE SUBJECTS (M: 42;F:43) were compared with an equal number STD subjects negative for HIV. They formed 1.6% of the total number (N =5287) screened in the STD OP. Heterosexual transmission was predominant. A significantly higher promiscuity and a larger number of sex partners and contacts were observed in the female but not the male HIV subjects. The ages at first coital experience were similar in both the groups. There was no difference in the occurrence of either STDs or psychiatric illness at index examination between the two groups. The symptom profile of psychiatric illness in the HIV subjects did not differ from that of the controls. The HIV subjects had more of physical diagnoses than the controls. The psychological responses to the 'disclosure' of seropositivity were noted. The closeness of HIV and STD groups on many factors and its implication for management and health education are commented upon.
ABSTRACT
This paper describes the results of a five year follow up study on factors associated with the course and outcome of schizophrenia conducted in 3 centers (Lucknow, Madras and Vellore) under the auspices of the Indian Council of Medical Research. 386 patients who satisfied well defined criteria of diagnosis and inclusion and exclusion criteria were studied. All patients were regularly followed up. 287 patients had complete follow up after 5 years. After 2 years, most of the active symptoms had subsided. At 5 year follow up, about 67% of the patients showed good outcome. Regular drug compliance, short duration of illness, absence of economic difficulties, absence of dangerous behaviour and delusions of presecution at intake; presence of agitation at intake; acute onset, absence of schizoid traits in personality, low level of education, rural background and lower age of onset were significantly related to good outcome. A combination of 8 factors could correctly predict the outcome in 80% of patients. The implications of the above findings are discussed.
ABSTRACT
A prospective study of 45 cases of unipolar depression was conducted with the aim to examine the hypothesis that cognitive disorder predisposes to depression. The data indicated that the absence of the cognitive disorder during remission was statistically significant in 41 cases who remitted. Of the latter, 27 were free from cognitive disorder, while 14 continued with it. This fails to support the causal role of the cognitive disorder. It was also observed that those with persisting cognitive disorder in remission ran the risk of early relapse. It is suggested that persistence of cognitive disorder in remission could be a predictor of early relapse and offers the possibility of using cognitive behavioural therapy for such select cases.
