Prevalence of substance use and substance use disorder in medically ill patients: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study from India.

Background Untreated co-occurring substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) in patients with medical conditions may be associated with unfavourable medical outcomes. Understanding the prevalence of substance use and SUDs among patients admitted to hospital for medical illness may help in developing appropriate strategies to manage SUDs in this population and improve the outcomes of medical illness. We assessed the prevalence of substance use and SUDs among patients admitted for medical illnesses and the association between substance use and medical illness.

Effectiveness and tolerability of adjunctive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in management of treatment-resistant depression: A retrospective chart review.

Background: There is a limited number of studies from India investigating the role of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This clinic-based study reports on the effectiveness of tDCS as an add-on treatment in individuals suffering from TRD.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-six right-handed individuals suffering from major depressive disorder who failed to respond to adequate trials of at least two antidepressant drugs in the current episode received tDCS as an augmenting treatment.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based evaluation of metabolic abnormalities in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and caudate nucleus in treatment-naïve patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common psychiatric disorder whose underlying pathophysiology is insufficiently understood. The pathophysiology of OCD may be related to abnormalities in the biochemistry of neurotransmitters.

Aim: The aim of the present study was to measure the absolute concentration of various metabolites in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and caudate nucleus (CN) in treatment-naive patients with OCD and compare it with healthy controls (HCs).

Somatic symptoms in schizophrenia: Association with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, disability and quality of life.

Background And Aims: There is lack of research on somatic symptoms in schizophrenia. We aimed at finding prevalence and types of somatic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia and assessed their association with socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.

Methods: We assessed somatic symptoms using Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15) in 93 patients with schizophrenia diagnosed on ICD10-DCR.

Disability and quality of life in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia on long- term clozapine therapy.

Objectives: To assess disability and quality of life (QOL) in treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) on long term clozapine therapy and assess their correlation with positive, negative and cognitive symptoms.

Methodology: Disability and QOL in forty patients with TRS (as per modified Kane's criteria) were assessed using World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 and World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF.

Technology and Medical Care in India: Growth of Telehealth Awareness during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of telemedicine in health care delivery worldwide. However, the true success of telemedicine depends on patients' acceptance, which in turn is decided by their interest in telemedicine. In this study, we aim to assess the population interest in telemedicine services across India during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A comparative study of sexual behavior, dysfunction, satisfaction, relationship, and sexual quality of life amongst treatment-naïve and abstinent men (buprenorphine-maintained) with Opioid (heroin) dependence syndrome.

Background: Association between opioid use and sexual functioning is well-known. However, data evaluating the influence of treatment on different aspects of sexuality are lacking.

Aim: To compare sexual behavior, functioning, relationship, satisfaction, and sexual quality of life (sQoL) among treatment naïve patients (GROUP-I) with Opioid (heroin) dependence syndrome (ODS-H) with those maintained on buprenorphine (GROUP-II).

Digital Capacity and Interest in mHealth Interventions Among Individuals on Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Study.

Background: Integrating mobile technologies in healthcare (mHealth) is helpful to manage various medical conditions. mHealth applications can bridge the gap in the management of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Research evaluating the feasibility of mHealth to address OUD is limited in developing countries.

Learning from telepsychiatry during COVID-19 pandemic in India: Boon for public mental health in low- & middle-income countries.

Novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the mental well-being of the population and posed many challenges in availing mental healthcare. Telepsychiatry has been proven to be an effective route for the delivery of mental healthcare. We share our experience of using the telemedicine approach in providing mental health services at a tertiarycare hospital in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, following the break in routine outpatient services during the national lockdown.

Is it a challenging task to work with personal protective equipment in a COVID-19 ICU: Findings from a hospital-based cross-sectional study from north India.

Introduction: Amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory for healthcare workers to remain protected against infection. The present study was undertaken to evaluate challenges faced by the healthcare workers while using level 3 PPE.

Methods: This hospital-based study was conducted among resident doctors selected by convenience sampling method using a pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire after getting informed consent from the participants to collect data on the somatic, psychological, and technical problems faced while working in PPE.

Impact of 1918 influenza pandemic on mental asylums in India: An analysis of asylum reports.

Introduction: Not much is known about impact of 1918 Influenza on patients confined inside mental asylums of that period.

Aim And Methods: The study aimed to assess impact of Influenza pandemic on mentally ill patients in asylums, based on data extracted from provincial asylum reports (1915-1923) from British India.

Results: The asylum population in most provinces was impacted both in terms of direct mortality (1918) as well as all-cause morbidity and mortality (1918; 1918-1920).

Screen Time beyond Gaming and Social Media: Excessive and Problematic Use of Over the Top (OTT) Platforms among College Students during COVID-19 Pandemic.

There is a gap in existing literature regarding Over the Top (OTT) platform use contributing to the excessive and problematic screen time. We aimed to assess OTT platform use among college students and its associations with increased screen time, mental well-being, COVID-19 related anxiety and personality traits. A total of 1039 students from a college in India were invited to participate in this web-based survey.

Top 100 cited articles in one year of COVID-19 research - A bibliometric analysis.

Background: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related scientific publications have increased exponentially during the present pandemic but their influence on biomedical literature is not known. The characteristics of highly cited articles help us to identify important advances and their scientific impact.

Objectives: In the present study, we have identified and analyzed the top 100 most highly-cited articles of COVID-19 research published in the year 2020.

Treatment Needs and Service Delivery for Patients with Dual Disorders During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the WADD Survey.

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a great challenge for the existing health systems. The restrictions imposed across countries on the movement of people and the realignment of health care services in response to the pandemic are likely to negatively affect the health status and delivery of mental health services to persons with dual disorders (PWDD). An online survey was conducted among mental health professionals involved in providing care to PWDD to better understand the problems encountered and identify potential solutions in providing continued treatment for PWDD during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sexual relationship, self-esteem, dysfunction, and sexual satisfaction in treatment naïve men with heroin dependence.

Heroin use, a prevalent and disabling condition, affects sexual functioning and the sexual quality of life. While there is adequate literature on sexual dysfunction with heroin use, the literature is scarce on the emotional aspects of sex, like the perception of sexual relationship, self-esteem, and satisfaction amongst heroin users. The study assessed these parameters among treatment-naïve, sexually active, married, male patients with heroin dependence.

The top 100 cited articles on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): A citation analysis.

There is an exponential growth in the field of biomedical literature over the years. Although numerous articles are published every year, few of them present important conceptual advances in that particular field and are found to be influential in the evolution of the field. The number of citations a publication receives can be used as a proxy marker of its impact on the field.

Is India ready for mental health apps (MHApps)? A quantitative-qualitative exploration of caregivers' perspective on smartphone-based solutions for managing severe mental illnesses in low resource settings.

Background: Mobile application based delivery of psycho-social interventions may help reduce the treatment gap for severe mental illnesses (SMIs) and decrease the burden on caregivers. Apps developed in high income settings show effectiveness, but they suffer from lack of applicability in low resource scenarios due to the difference in technology penetration, affordability, and acceptance.

Objective: This study aimed to understand health technology usage, perceived needs, and acceptability of app based interventions in patients with SMIs to improve illness management and reduce caregiver burden.