Disability and quality of life among elderly persons with mental illness.

The present study was undertaken to understand the level of disability and quality of life of elderly persons with chronic and persistent mental illnesses and to compare it with those who were elderly but well with no illness. For the purpose 200 elderly persons with mental illness (PMI), attending psychiatric services were included in the study. A comparison group of 103 well elderly persons was drawn from the same study area as control group (CG).

Stigma of mental illness: An interventional study to reduce its impact in the community.

Background: Research literature has documented the nature of stigma associated with mental illness (MI) and its consequences in all spheres of life of ill persons and their families. It is also suggested that there is a need to develop intervention strategies to reduce stigma. However, very little is reported about these initiatives in the Indian context.

Emotions: An Indian perspective.

The present paper is an attempt to understand emotions and the affect from Indian traditional point of view. In the Indian philosophical texts' detailed descriptions of emotions are not available nor are dealt with as a separate concept. This view of emotions lays emphasis on desires as the root cause of emotional upheavals.

Efficacy of psychosocial rehabilitation program: The RFS experience.

Background: People with severe and persistent mental illness need help in most aspects of their lives, as the disability associated with these diseases can be debilitating. Psychosocial rehabilitation interventions aim to help them relearn skills that would reduce disabilities so that they can be reintegrated into society.

Objective: To study the efficacy of the rehabilitation program at the Richmond Fellowship Society (RFS) 'ASHA' half-way home.