Psychosocial characteristics of literate blinds: a study.

Blindness leaves a person in a state of physical, psychosocial and economic dependence. Aberrant mental attitudes and even frank mental illnesses can develop among the aged blinds. The present study shows that acceptance towards their disability was much higher (in 68.75% cases) among the aged blinds in group 'A' (mean age 42.2 years) than the younger student (in 47% cases) in group 'B' (mean age 17.6 years) All the younger blinds were found to be optimistic for their future but the level for this mental attitude among older subjects was relatively lower (in 68.75% cases). The aberrant mental attitude like rejection, guilt and aggressiveness which reflected negative attitude towards life were more prevalent among students. Older blinds were found to be relatively more shameful for their disability (in 43.75% cases). The negative attitude towards life was evaluated to be present among 12.5% cases in group 'A' and among 76.5% cases in group 'B'. Anxiety and depression were the mental illnesses evaluated among blind and were displayed by 6.25% and 0% cases in group 'A' i.e. the group of teachers and trained workers and in 35.3% and 43.7% cases among group 'B' i.e. the group of blind students respectively. Aberrant mental attitudes have shown no definite relation with the age at the onset of blindness or otherwise they appeared to change with age.

Prevalence and abuse of psychoactive substances in children and adolescents.

The present study has been carried out in the slum areas of Gorakhpur city, covering a population of 10,187 in the four colleges of Gorakhpur. Five hundred and eighty children and adolescents in urban slums, and 750 college students between 10-18 years were studied by means of a questionnaire card for detection of prevalence rate and various others co-relates of abuse of psychoactive substances. Overall, prevalence of abuse of psychoactive substances was 25% in slum areas, and 18% in college students. Abuse of tobacco was most frequent (50.3% & 72.5%) followed by that of alcohol (11.7% & 16.2%) in both the groups respectively. Cannabis was also used by some children (0.6%). More abusers were from Hindu families with low educational status and low family income. Surprisingly no one was found to be abusing tablets and street drugs.

A psychosocial study of delusional parasitosis.

Forty eight patients of delusional parasitosis seen during a short span of five years were studied and underlying psychosocial factors were analysed. The findings revealed that elderly, married, and illiterate persons of rural area from lower socio-economic stratum were distinctly more affected. The incidence of the disease was greater during the months of May to August. Majority of them had abnormal personality traits and definite psychiatric illness was present in about one third of the patients. The psychosocial factors associated with the disorders are discussed.

Mechanism of haloperidol-induced miosis.

Haloperidol administration (iv) has been shown to produce miosis in dogs. In the present study on rabbits, haloperidol administration (iv) produced dose-related miosis but when administered intracerebroventricularly, it failed to produce any change in pupillary size. Higher degree of miosis was observed when haloperidol was administered directly into the anterior chamber of eye. Haloperidol pretreatment failed to significantly modify the mydriasis produced by phenylephrine or atropine. These observations suggest that the miosis produced by haloperidol is a peripheral effect, and also that the miosis is not mediated through the blockade of alpha adrenoceptors of radial muscles or stimulation of cholinoceptors of circular muscles of iris.

Prochlorperazine in anxiety.

Seventy patients suffering from primary anxiety state were selected for this clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to Prochlorperazine (Group I) and other drugs eg., Chlordiapoxide etc. (Group II). Hamilton's anxiety scale was employed to rate the anxiety. With the 4 weeks of therapy there was significant fall in score in both the groups of patients but the fall in score is more in Group I cases as compared to Group II (t = 11.5, df= 68, P < 0.001). The reduction in score (less than 10) and clinical improvement (medium to optimal improvement) was significantly more and faster in Group I (85%) cases as compared to Group II (70%) cases (χ(2) = 5.225, df = 1, P < 0.02). The side effects were least in Group I cases.Prochlorperazine (Stemetil) has given a significant anxiolytic effect without adversly affecting the mental function. In the dosage used prochlorperazine was free from the side effects and can be effectively employed in the management of anxiety.

Attitude of parents towards their mentally retarded children.

Parents of 50 mentally retarded children were investigated for their attitudes towards their retarded children. Both the parents showed more negative attitudes toward their severely retarded child. In general mothers exhibited more negative attitude than the fathers.