A Cross-sectional Study on the Proportion of Anxiety and Depression and Determinants of Quality of Life in Polycystic Ovarian Disease.

BACKGROUND: The polycystic ovary syndrome is a disorder characterized by hyperandrogenism, ovulatory dysfunction, and polycystic ovarian morphologic features. Earlier studies have shown that depression was significantly increased in the polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) group and also that PCOD women had marked reduction in quality of life, impaired emotional well-being, and reduced sexual satisfaction. This study was undertaken with the objectives of studying the proportion of anxiety and depression and assessing the quality of life and its correlates in women with PCOD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study on 64 PCOD patients using a pro forma for collecting sociodemographic and clinical details, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety, Ferriman-Gallewey score for hirsutism and WHO-quality of life (QOL) BREF. RESULTS: Depression was seen in 93.5% of the subjects and anxiety in 100% of the subjects. The patients were also seen to have a lower quality of life. Lower scores were obtained in the psychological domain (68.80 ± 12.87). Presence and severity of depression and anxiety were found to have a negative correlation with QOL in all domains but maximally affecting the social relationships domain (P ≤ 0.001 and <0.001, respectively). Severity of hirsutism and nulliparity was found to have association with QOL in the psychological domain. CONCLUSION: The majority of women with PCOD in this study were found to have depression and anxiety. They were also seen to have a lower quality of life. Depression, anxiety, and hirsutism were found to have a negative correlation with QOL in all domains.

Factors associated with resilience in wives of individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Mental health and resilience of family members of individuals with alcohol dependence affect their ability to cope with stress, maintain emotional well-being, and to positively adapt to their difficult life circumstances. This study attempted to study resilience among wives of men with alcohol dependence syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive patients with a diagnosis of alcohol dependence and their wives attending the Department of Psychiatry, MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery, Kerala, over a 1-year period were recruited. The wives were assessed using the Resilience Scale for Adults and the Hamilton Depressive Rating Scale, whereas their spouses were evaluated using severity of alcohol dependence questionnaire and a proforma to collect sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Women with good resilience were compared to those with low scores using a case-control framework to evaluate factors associated with resilience. Multivariable analysis to adjust for common confounders was done using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: Eighty patients and their spouses were recruited and evaluated. Resilience was inversely related to the severity of alcohol dependence, years of drinking in dependence pattern, history of domestic violence, and severity of depression in wives. Involvement in support groups was protective. CONCLUSION: Assessment of resilience in wives of individuals with alcohol dependence and identification and management of those with poor resilience should go hand in hand with their husband's treatment program.

Clozapine re-challenge under the cover of Filgrastim.

Rechallenge with clozapine, despite a history of clozapine-induced neutropenia is considered in patients with a good response to the drug in the past, for whom no other treatments are effective, and in cases where the risks of withholding treatment are greater than the risks of rechallenge. Dyscrasias that occur during rechallenge are reportedly earlier in onset and longer lasting. Strategies advocated during rechallenge include frequent monitoring of white blood counts, the use of lithium or Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factors. We report a case of a patient with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who developed neutropenia with clozapine as a result of which the drug was discontinued. However poor response to other first and second-generation antipsychotic medication and the persisting risk of harm to himself and others necessitated the reconsideration of clozapine. The patient was re-challenged with clozapine under the cover of Filgrastim, a Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor.

Risk factors for tardive dyskinesia.

Three hundred and fifty three patients who had been on antipsychotics for three months or more were assessed using Simpson Tardive Dyskinesia Rating Scale. 40.2% of these patients, who merited a diagnosis of probable Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) by the Schooler and Kane criteria, were reassessed three months later and 25.5% of the total sample were found to have persistent TD. Age, total antipsychotic dosage and duration of antipsychotic exposure were found to be positively correlated with persistent TD.