Vitamin B12 supplementation in treating major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/objective: Recent literature has identified links between vitamin B12 deficiency and depression.We compared the clinical response of SSRI-monotherapy with that of B12-augmentation in a sample of depressed patients with low normal B12 levels who responded inadequately to the first trial with the SSRIs.

Methods: Patients with depression and low normal B12 levels were randomized to a control arm (antidepressant only) or treatment arm (antidepressants and injectable vitamin B12 supplementation).

Association of depression with treatment outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: a cross-sectional study from Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: To assess the associations of depression with glycemic control and compliance to self-care activities in adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary-care hospital in Karachi (Aga Khan University Hospital). Equal numbers of depressed and non-depressed patients were consecutively recruited from the diabetic clinic. Information on demographic and clinical characteristics was collected in face-to-face interviews and from medical records.

Behavioral problems among children living in orphanage facilities of Karachi, Pakistan: comparison of children in an SOS Village with those in conventional orphanages.

Purpose: This study compared the behavioral problems of children living in an SOS Village, which attempts to provide a family setup for its children, with those living in conventional orphanages.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 330 children, aged 4-16 years, living either in an SOS or other conventional orphanages of Karachi, and assessed their behavioral problems using strengths and difficulty questionnaire (SDQ). Behavioral problems on composite SDQ and subscales, rated by foster mothers, were compared between children in the two groups using χ(2) test of independence.

Comparison of Urdu version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL) amongst primary school children in Karachi.

Objective: To compare CBCL (Child Behaviour Check Llist) Urdu, with the validated Urdu version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) used as "gold standard" among school children in Karachi, Pakistan, and to develop local cutoffs for CBCL using SDQ as a gold standard.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Schools of Karachi metropolitan area from January to December 2006.

Increase in teachers' knowledge about ADHD after a week-long training program: a pilot study.

Objectives: ADHD affects 3% to 5% of school-age children. Clinical and community based epidemiological studies in Pakistan have shown a high prevalence of ADHD among school going children. A thorough review of literature shows that no studies of teachers' training programs regarding ADHD have been published in Pakistani research literature.

Prevalence of emotional and behavioural problems among primary school children in Karachi, Pakistan--multi informant survey.

Objective: To determine emotional and behavioural problem among school going children in Pakistan.

Methods: A cross sectional survey of school children of certain towns within Karachi metropolitan area, aged 5 to 11 years during 1(st) half of 2006. SDQ was filled out by parents and school teachers for the same children.

Attitudes of pakistani medical students towards psychiatry as a prospective career: a survey.

Objective: Pakistan is facing a shortage of psychiatrists; there are about 350 psychiatrists in a country of 150 million. Medical specialty choice surveys of medical students have approached this issue from various angles. The authors' objective is to explore the attitudes of Pakistani medical students toward psychiatry as their future career.

Developing Services with Limited Resources: Establishing a CAMHS in Pakistan.

Background:   There are very few mental health services in Pakistan. In 2002, the Department of Psychiatry at Aga Khan University Hospital started a separate clinic for children under the age of 15 years to meet the population needs. This service took direct referrals from other physicians as well as from parents and schools.

Screening for emotional and behavioural problems amongst 5-11-year-old school children in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: While a number of studies in the western countries have provided estimates of prevalence for child psychiatric morbidity and associated risk factors, relatively little is known about child psychiatric problems and risk factors in developing countries like Pakistan.

Method: A cross sectional survey of 5-11-year-old children attending main stream private and community schools in Karachi was conducted. Seven private and eight community schools agreed to participate.

Mental distress in mothers of child psychiatric patients.

Objective: To determine whether caring for a child with mental health issues could lead to mental distress among mothers.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration: Outpatient Clinics of The Aga Khan University Hospital and PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, from January to June 2005.