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The association between the season and the occurrence of acute transient psychotic disorder (ATPD) has been sparsely studied. We would like to report five patients who presented with acute psychotic symptoms during the summer and discuss other risk factors that could be associated with this seasonal predilection.
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Background: Study tours are known to have an important role in enriching the knowledge of students in all fields. Our study aimed to evaluate the experience of a postgraduate and faculty study tour in the field of mental health. Methods: We obtained both quantitative and descriptive feedback from 31 participants who had taken part in the annual study tour conducted in the years 2014-2018 using a specially designed feedback pro forma. Results: All the participants reported overall satisfaction with the tour. Learning was enhanced, and most found the tour relevant to their current field of study. They particularly enjoyed the experience of traveling in a peer group without faculty supervision and learning to make decisions as a group. Their chief concerns were about the continuous travel and the limited time allotted to each center. Conclusions: A well-planned study tour during training helps trainees in the mental health field improve their knowledge, hone practical skills, and learn life lessons; it promotes bonding with peers and fosters self-directed learning and independence. The limitations were the inability to have direct face-to-face interviews with most participants and the study tour centers being limited to a small geographical area.
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Psychodermatological (PD) conditions encountered in dermatologic practice include primary psychiatric conditions such as delusions of parasitosis or secondary psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression due to dermatologic disease. The psychotropics include antipsychotic agents, anti-anxiety agents, antidepressants, and miscellaneous drugs such as anti convulsants. Anti psychotics are further divided into first-generation and second-generation drugs. Currently, second-generation drugs e.g., risperidone are preferred over first-generation drugs e.g., pimozide in delusional infestation owing to the side effect profile of the latter. Anti-anxiety agents include benzodiazepines used in acute anxiety and buspirone in chronic anxiety disorders. They are frequently prescribed along with antidepressants. Although dependence and necessity of tapering is a problem with benzodiazepines, delayed onset of action is a feature of buspirone. The commonly used antidepressants in dermatology include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline), selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (venlafaxine, desvenlefaxine, and duloxetine), norepinephrine dopamine reuptake inhibitors (bupropion), tricyclic antidepressants (doxepin, amitriptyline, imipramine, and clomipramine), and tetracyclic antidepressants (mirtazapine). Miscellaneous drugs include anticonvulsants such as gabapentin and pregabalin, naltrexone, and N-acetyl cysteine. The principles of PD treatment are first establish the psychiatric diagnosis, followed by initiating drug treatment. The choice of drugs is dependent on multiple factors such as side-effect profile, drug interactions, and co-morbid conditions. Usually, drugs are started at a low dose and gradually increased. A literature search was done in Pubmed, Google Scholar, and Medline databases, and articles on treatment were analyzed.
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BACKGROUND: Social support and life events moderate the expression of depression though studies have shown contradictory results. The objective was to study the stressful life events and perceived social support in patients with adjustment disorder, first-episode depression, and recurrent depressive disorder (RDD). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty-six patients aged 18-60 years with adjustment disorder, first-episode depression, or RDD according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision were evaluated using the presumptive stressful life events scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. RESULTS: There was no difference in mean number of total life events and subgroups as well as perceived stress score in the past 1 year between the groups. There was no difference in the perceived social support scale total score, as well as from family and friends, across the three groups. However, the mean perceived social support from significant others in those with RDD was lower as compared to those with adjustment disorder. CONCLUSION: Stressful life events do not differ in adjustment disorder, first-episode depression, and RDD. Furthermore, the perceived social support was similar across the three groups, except for perceived social support from significant others, which was less in those with RDD.
