Cardiovascular risk factors among bipolar disorder patients admitted to an inpatient unit of a tertiary care hospital in India.

Objective: The study aimed to examine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods: By consecutive sampling, 93 inpatients (aged ≥20 years) diagnosed with bipolar disorder were evaluated for 10 year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk and 10-year cardiovascular mortality risk (CMR) on the Framingham (10-year all CHD events) function/risk equation and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) respectively.

Results: Ten-year CHD risk was 3.

Quality of life, disability scores, and distress index in fungal rhinosinusitis.

Our goal was to determine quality of life (QOL), disability, and distress in the day-to-day lives of patients suffering from fungal rhinosinusitis (FRS) based on a prospective questionnaire. The study included 125 patients suffering from FRS, excluding those with acute fulminant FRS and any other comorbid illness. The data were compared with data for 50 age- and sex-matched controls who did not have any other chronic illness and obtained outpatient services from the Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of our institute.

Relationship between first treatment contact and supernatural beliefs in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE. To explore the relationship between attribution of symptoms to supernatural beliefs and first treatment contact in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia attending a tertiary care hospital located in North India. METHODS.

Do the various categories of somatoform disorders differ from each other in symptom profile and psychological correlates.

Background: In routine clinical practice, the subcategories of various somatoform disorders are rarely used by the primary care physicians and there is lack of data to suggest any difference in the clinical manifestations of these subcategories.

Aim: To compare the symptom profile, anxiety, depression, alexithymia, somato-sensory amplification and hypochondriasis of patients with persistent somatoform pain disorder with other subtypes of somatoform disorder.

Method: A total of 119 patients diagnosed with somatoform disorders according to the International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision (ICD-10) were evaluated for prevalence of somatic symptoms, anxiety, depression, alexithymia, hypochondriacal worry and somato-sensory amplification.

Delirium: Predictors of delay in referral to consultation liaison psychiatry services.

Objective: To evaluate the predictors of delay in psychiatry referral for patients with delirium.

Materials And Methods: The consultation liaison psychiatry registry and case notes of 461 patients referred to psychiatry consultation liaison services and diagnosed as having delirium were reviewed. Data pertaining to sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98 version, etiologies associated with delirium were extracted.

Sexual dysfunction in clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder receiving lithium.

There is limited data on the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder receiving lithium. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in patients with bipolar disorder receiving lithium and to study the correlates of sexual dysfunction. One hundred clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder (Global Assessment for Functioning score of >70, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of ≤7 and Young Mania Rating Scale score of ≤7, and no change in medications at least in the last 3 months) receiving lithium were evaluated on Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and Brief Adherence Rating Scale.

Relationship of supernatural beliefs and first treatment contact in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder: an exploratory study from India.

Background: The etiology of mental illness has been attributed to many different causes by people of various cultural backgrounds, including supernatural beliefs. This in turn affects the help-seeking behavior. Aim of this study was to explore the supernatural belief and pathways of care in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) attending a tertiary care hospital located in north India.

Primary meningococcal septic arthritis of the ankle joint: a case report.

We present the case of a healthy 18-year-old female who presented with history of an acute onset, painful, swollen right ankle joint. Microbiologic samples from the ankle aspirate grew Neisseria meningitidis. She had had no previous contact with a patient with meningitis nor any existing or preceding clinical symptoms of meningitis.

Clinical evaluation of Deep Anterior Lamellar Keratoplasty (DALK) for stromal corneal opacities.

Background: Corneal scars are commonly formed following many diseases of the eye like trauma, inflammation and infections. They lead to permanent diminution of vision which can be managed by Penetrating Keratoplasty (PK). PK is removing diseased as well as healthy tissues and is associated with many post-operative complications.

Changes in cost of treating schizophrenia: comparison of two studies done a decade apart.

Objective of this study was to compare the cost of care of schizophrenia estimated in the same catchment area separated by a decade. Cost of care of schizophrenia was estimated in 50 outpatients in 2001-2002 and 53 outpatients 2010-2011 using the same methodology along with structured assessments of psychopathology. Overall cost of care of schizophrenia has doubled in the last one decade.

Comparison of symptoms of delirium across various motoric subtypes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between delirium motor subtypes and other symptoms of delirium.

Methods: Three hundred and twenty-one (n = 321) consecutive patients referred to consultation-liaison psychiatry services were evaluated on Delirium Rating scale-Revised-98 version and amended Delirium Motor Symptom Scale.

Results: Half of the patients had hyperactive subtype (n = 161; 50.

Risk factors for delirium and inpatient mortality with delirium.

Background: There is limited on the risk factors and mortality in patients with delirium from India.

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with delirium and inpatient mortality rates of patients diagnosed with delirium by psychiatry consultation liaison services.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred and thirty-one patients diagnosed as delirium by the psychiatry consultation liaison services were examined on standardized instruments: Delirium Rating Scale Revised 98 version (DRS-R-98), amended Delirium Motor Symptom Scale (DMSS), Delirium Etiology Checklist (DEC), Charlson Comorbidity index, and a checklist for assessment of risk factors.

Do motor subtypes of delirium in child and adolescent have a different clinical and phenomenological profile?

Objective: To explore the frequency of different motor subtypes of delirium in children and adolescents and to study the relationship of motor subtypes with other symptoms, etiology and outcome of delirium.

Methods: Forty-nine consecutive patients, aged 8-19 years, diagnosed as having delirium as per DSM-IV-TR were assessed on Delirium Rating Scale-Revised 98 (DRS-R-98), amended Delirium Motor Symptom Scale (DMSS), delirium etiology checklist and risk factors for delirium. Different motoric subtypes of delirium were compared with each other for symptoms of delirium as assessed by DRS-R-98, risk factors, etiology and outcome.

The reliability and validity of the MATRICS functional assessment battery.

Objectives: The Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) initiative was designed to encourage the development of cognitive enhancing agents for schizophrenia. For a medication to receive this indication, regulatory agencies require evidence of improvement in both cognition and functional outcome. Functional capacity measures typically used in clinical trials as intermediate measures of functional outcome must be adapted to fit different cultural contexts for use internationally.

Metabolic Syndrome in Drug-naïve Patients with Depressive Disorders.

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is found to be higher in patients with depression than in the general population. As there is lack of data from India, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of MS in patients with depression who had never been treated with antidepressants for their depressive disorder and compare the same with a matched group of healthy controls.

Materials And Methods: Forty-three drug-naïve patients with depressive disorders and 43 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were assessed for the prevalence of MS as per the consensus definition.

Explanatory models of somatoform disorder patients attending a psychiatry outpatient clinic: a study from North India.

Background: The symptoms of somatoform disorders are very distressing to the sufferer as well as pose significant burden on the health-care delivery system. Although the nature of symptoms is physical, the underlying mechanisms are not clearly understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the explanatory models of patients with somatoform disorders presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Northern India.

Symptom profile and outcome of delirium associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome: a study from India.

Aim: To study the profile of delirium associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) in a developing country in terms of symptomatology, associated risk factors/physical complications, and outcome.

Methodology: Using a prospective design, 112 patients in whom delirium could be attributed to AWS as either the sole or a contributory cause were assessed by Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 and the associated etiological factors were assessed by using delirium etiology checklist.

Findings: In all patients, delirium was acute in onset and all patients had disturbance of sleep-wake cycle and inattention.

Indianization of psychiatry utilizing Indian mental concepts.

Most of the psychiatry practice in India is guided by the western concepts of mental health and illness, which have largely ignored the role of religion, family, eastern philosophy, and medicine in understanding and managing the psychiatric disorders. India comprises of diverse cultures, languages, ethnicities, and religious affiliations. However, besides these diversities, there are certain commonalities, which include Hinduism as a religion which is spread across the country, the traditional family system, ancient Indian system of medicine and emphasis on use of traditional methods like Yoga and Meditation for controlling mind.

Comprehensive questionnaire for assessment of Dhat syndrome: development and use in patient population.

Introduction: Dhat syndrome is a culture-bound syndrome, characterized by the core belief of loss of semen accompanied by symptoms of general weakness, lack of energy and concentration, impaired sexual functions, and vague somatic troubles, often associated with an anxious or dysphoric mood state. Although many studies have described the clinical picture of Dhat syndrome, there is lack of availability of an instrument which can comprehensively assess patients presenting with Dhat syndrome.

Aim: The aim of this article is to develop a questionnaire that can comprehensively assess Dhat syndrome and guide the clinicians in managing such patients.

Symptoms and aetiology of delirium: a comparison of elderly and adult patients.

OBJECTIVE. To compare the symptoms of delirium as assessed by the Delirium Rating Scale-Revised-98 (DRS-R-98) and associated aetiologies in adult and elderly patients seen in a consultation-liaison service. METHODS.

IPS multicentric study: Functional somatic symptoms in depression.

Background: As a pilot project, Indian Psychiatric Society conducted the first multicentric study involving diverse settings from teaching institutions in public and private sectors and even privately run psychiatric clinics.

Aim Of The Study: To study the typology of functional somatic complaints (FSC) in patients with first episode depression.

Materials And Methods: A total of 741 patients from 16 centers across the country participated in the study.

Ethics in medical research: General principles with special reference to psychiatry research.

Ethics is an understanding of the nature of conflicts arising from moral imperatives and how best we may deal with them. Ethics in medical research deals with the conflicts of interest across various levels. Guidelines have been proposed for standardized ethical practice throughout the globe.

Psychiatric morbidity in patients with transverse myelitis and stroke: A comparison.

Background: Psychiatric morbidity may be highly prevalent in transverse myelitis (TM), but data on this aspect are limited.

Aim: To assess psychiatric morbidity in a clinical sample of patients with idiopathic TM compared to patients with a recent stroke.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients with idiopathic TM and stroke (30 each) underwent two-stage screening with the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I DSM-IV Disorders - Clinician Version (SCID I-CV), and ratings of depression, disability levels, and cognitive impairment.