Study protocol of DIVERGE, the first genetic epidemiological study of major depressive disorder in Pakistan.

Introduction: Globally, 80% of the burdenof major depressive disorder (MDD) pertains to low- and middle-income countries. Research into genetic and environmental risk factors has the potential to uncover disease mechanisms that may contribute to better diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, yet has so far been largely limited to participants with European ancestry from high-income countries. The DIVERGE study was established to help overcome this gap and investigate genetic and environmental risk factors for MDD in Pakistan.

Efficacy and Safety of Escitalopram Oral Drops to Treat Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Adolescent, Adult and Geriatric Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study in Pakistan.

Background  Escitalopram is widely used for the management of the major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder, but there is no to very limited data available regarding efficacy and safety in Pakistani patients. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of escitalopram oral drops to manage the major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in a local cluster within Pakistan. Methods This prospective multicenter observational study was conducted in the department of psychiatry from August 2018 - August 2019.

Anxiety and Depression among Parents of Children with Intellectual Disability in Pakistan.

Background: Studies have shown an association between parental distress and caretaking of children with developmental cognitive delays. There is little data in developing countries, such as Pakistan, concerning the impact of raising children with intellectual disability upon the quality of parent functioning and risk for psychopathology.

Objective: To assess the level of psychopathology i.

Comparison of quality of life among cardiac, hepatic, cancer, and dermatological patients.

Objective: To assess the level of quality of life (QOL) in patients suffering from various cardiac, cancer, hepatic, and dermatological diseases.

Method: A total of 339 patients of cardiac, cancer, hepatic, and dermatological diseases from DHQ/Allied hospitals of Faisalabad participated in this study through purposive convenient sampling technique. Quality of life was measured by WHO QOL-BREF (Validated Urdu Version) while demographic variables were recorded on a demographic sheet.

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.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in hospitalized cardiac patients in pakistan.

Objective: This study examined the prevalence and risk factors for depression and anxiety in hospitalized cardiac patients in Pakistan.

Methods: All patients admitted to a cardiac unit of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan over a period of eight weeks were evaluated with clinical interview using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Quality of Life (QoL) scale.

Results: One hundred patients entered the study.