ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has globally impacted not only physical wellbeing but also the mental aspects in a far more extensive manner. The prevalence of psychological issues in cancer patients is much higher than in the general population, and the same has been impacted more during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this study was to estimate the psychological impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of cancer patients with no prior history of any form of mental disease. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of both inpatients and outpatients undergoing treatment and follow-up for different forms of cancer was conducted, and patients were assessed for perceived risk, anxiety, and depression. Results: Among the total of 150 participants, 31.8% of patients reported fear and concern. The major concern was regarding fear of treatment delay and fear of getting lonely. Over the prevalence of anxiety disorder with a cut-off score of ≥10 based on Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 and Patient Depression Health Questionnaire-9 were 34% and 24%, respectively. Patient with female gender, married, being treated for ovarian cancer and who does not have metastatic changes were more anxious. Depressive symptoms were more in female patients, those who are married, and in the group with treatment delay due to COVID-19. Conclusion: There is urgent need for psychological intervention among cancer patients as there is an increase in mental health problems in this special group due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Neoplasms , Humans , Female , Male , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Depression/epidemiology , Depression/etiology , Depression/psychology , Anxiety/epidemiology , Anxiety/etiology , Neoplasms/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Interest in electrochemical analysis of purine nucleobases and few other important purine derivatives has been growing rapidly. Over the period of the past decade, the design of electrochemical biosensors has been focused on achieving high sensitivity and efficiency. The range of existing electrochemical methods with carbon electrode displays the highest rate in the development of biosensors. Moreover, modification of electrode surfaces based on nanomaterials is frequently used due to their extraordinary conductivity and surface to volume ratio. Different strategies for modifying electrode surfaces facilitate electron transport between the electrode surface and biomolecules, including DNA, oligonucleotides and their components. This review aims to summarize recent developments in the electrochemical analysis of purine derivatives, as well as discuss different applications.
Subject(s)
Biosensing Techniques/methods , Electrochemical Techniques/methods , Purines/analysis , Electrodes , Oxidation-Reduction , Surface PropertiesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess psychiatric morbidity in stable chronic respiratory disorders and to examine the pattern of psychiatric illness in specific respiratory disorders in Northern India. METHODS: All consecutive patients with stable chronic respiratory illnesses who attended the respiratory disease clinic were recruited in the study. Their healthy attendants were interviewed as a control group. The research clinician, trained in the use of the Global Mental Health Assessment Tool, Primary Care Version (GMHAT/PC), interviewed all the participants. The respiratory consultant made the respiratory illness diagnosis. The data were analyzed comparing the patient and the control group by using relative risk and adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Of 391 patients with respiratory illness, 44.8% had a mental illness identified by GMHAT/PC interview compared with 24.3% of 177 attendants (controls). Anxiety (20.6%), depression (13.2%) and obsessive compulsive disorders (4.6%) were the most frequently identified mental disorders in the respiratory disease group. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchial asthma when combined with rhinitis had a significantly higher prevalence of comorbid mental illness than those illnesses alone. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic respiratory illness have high mental health comorbidity. Physicians and practitioners can be trained to identify mental illness using computer-assisted tools such as GMHAT/PC (which is easy to use by clinicians and well accepted by patients). A holistic approach of providing care to such patients may improve their overall outcome and quality of life.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Respiratory Tract Diseases/epidemiology , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/epidemiology , Asthma/epidemiology , Asthma/psychology , Case-Control Studies , Chronic Disease/epidemiology , Chronic Disease/psychology , Comorbidity , Depressive Disorder/epidemiology , Female , Humans , India/epidemiology , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/epidemiology , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder/epidemiology , Prevalence , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/psychology , Respiratory Tract Diseases/psychology , Rhinitis, Allergic , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/epidemiology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/psychologyABSTRACT
Managing mental health problems of people around the world is a major challenge for health workers as well as for policy makers. It is a particular problem for low- and middle-income countries for many reasons, especially due to lack of recourses.A computer-assisted interview, the GMHAT/PC (Global Mental Health Assessment Tool - Primary Care) has been developed to assist general practitioners and other health professionals to make a quick, convenient, and comprehensive, standardised mental health assessment. It has proved to be a reliable and valid tool in various studies. Its use by other health professionals may help in detecting and managing mental disorders in primary care and general health settings more effectively. The article outlines the development and potential use of the GMHAT/PC.
