A randomized, open-label, standard controlled, parallel group study of efficacy and safety of baclofen, and chlordiazepoxide in uncomplicated alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Background: Alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) is a distressing condition, generally controlled by benzodiazepines (BZD's). Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) agonist, has also shown promising results in controlling AWS. As there are few studies comparing the efficacy and tolerability of chlordiazepoxide with baclofen, the present study was taken up.

Pathways to tertiary care adopted by individuals with psychiatric illness.

Awareness of mental illness as a cause of morbidity is increasing the world over. Of the top ten causes of disability, five are psychiatric illnesses. Availability and accessibility of psychiatrists as well as treatment facilities is meagre, making pathways to psychiatric care tortuous hence delayed, affecting outcomes negatively.

Psychiatric morbidity and marital satisfaction among spouses of men with alcohol dependence.

Background: Alcohol dependence has adverse health and social consequences; Alcohol related problems primarily occur within the family context and maximum impact is felt on spouses, given the intimate nature of their relationship. Spouses play an important role in treatment programs related to alcohol. There is thus a need to study psychiatric morbidity and marital satisfaction in spouses of alcohol dependent patients in order to understand and address such issues.

Impact of age and gender on the coping styles and psychiatric morbidity faced by informal primary caregivers of HIV-infected individuals living in India.

Background: Primary caregivers of HIV-infected patients face enormous burden, which if inappropriately coped, leads to psychiatric morbidity. Little is known of what role caregiver's age and gender play in this.

Purpose: To assess the socio-demographic profile and the influence of age and gender on coping strategies and psychiatric morbidity.